The BBC has released its new iPlayer application for Apple’s iPad, allowing users in different countries to access a huge literary of on-demand content.

The app is offered by BBC Worldwide in 11 European territories, as part of a test before the service is released worldwide next year. The corporation aims to maximize revenues by attracting expatriate population as well as the audience of English language content in these countries on Mainland Europe.

“We think this should be about the best of the BBC and British creativity,” said Jana Bennett, president of worldwide networks at the group. “This is a pilot – we want to learn more about on-demand behaviour ... We think the next phase will be on iPhones and Apple TV.”

The app will allow audiences in these countries to watch popular shows like Only Fools & Horses and Sherlock. A section of the content is also offered for free, which s sponsored by Visit Britain, UK’s tourism promotion agency.

The users will have to pay a subscription of €6.99 a month or €49.99 a year. The subscription will allow unlimited downloads of shows onto an iPad for offline viewing. Initially, about 1500 hours of television will be available at launch and the corporation will add further 100 hours every month.