Use of tablets and smartphones leads to record year for BBC iPlayer Figures released by the BBC showed that the event, which featured appearances by stars including Bradley Wiggins, Kenneth Branagh and Daniel Craig, got around half a million more requests than the second most popular show - an episode of Top Gear. Daniel Danker, general manager of programmes and on demand, said: "2012 was a ground-breaking year for BBC iPlayer with a record 2.32 billion requests for programmes across over 650 platforms. Last year, the use of iPlayer shifted from PCs and early adopter devices like game consoles to screens used by all audiences. Mobile, tablet and connected TV skyrocketed, with a particular emphasis on audiences taking iPlayer on the go. This year, we're looking forward to turning iPlayer into an entertainment destination, with a relentless focus on making iPlayer as easy and enjoyable as television.