BBC's 'The Office'

The BBC will launch a beta version of an online on-demand TV service next month called iPlayer, according to Telecompaper.

Available only to those in the UK who pay the license fee to watch BBC TV, the online platform will offer programs to watch on the PC.

Programs will be available for download for a week after broadcast without advertising. Once a user downloads it, they'll have 30 days to watch the program after which it deletes itself.

iPlayer will promote itself on the BBC's website and via links from YouTube.

BBC is also in talks with a wide range of potential distribution partners, including MSN, the UK's Telegraph, AOL, Yahoo!, MySpace, Blinkx and Virgin Media.

BBC also hopes to expand iPlayer to other TV platforms, as well as mobile phones.