BBC Director of Television Danny Cohen today announces a new BBC role, Controller of BBC iPlayer.

Cohen says: "BBC iPlayer is an increasingly important part of the way viewers enjoy our content. From now on I want us to think of BBC iPlayer as having the same status and value as a linear channel service. In essence, it becomes our fifth channel, creating and sharing content alongside our linear services."

Cohen's plans dove-tail with details of the evolution of BBC iPlayer announced by Director General Tony Hall on 8 October.

This new content role reports directly to Cohen and will take overall charge of the exclusive online content planned for BBC iPlayer, ranging from short-form, through improved curation to the premiering of BBC shows in advance of their transmission on the linear channels.

The role will be advertised in due course.