While it was due to go live towards the end of November, Freesat has announced that the BBC's iPlayer catch up service will now launch in closed beta on the satellite platform on 7 December.

This beta version of iPlayer for Freesat will only be available to "selected journalists and partners" who will be able to access the service using a code.

As far as the rest of the hoi polloi Freesat users go, well, there's a a wait - Freesat says: "We hope as many Freesat viewers as possible will be able to use the service by Christmas and without the need for a code".

The iPlayer service will only be available to Freesat customers with Ethernet-enabled HD Freesat TVs or HD boxes, and again only if they have an actual broadband speed of 1Mb/s to watch BBC iPlayer or 2Mb/s to watch in high quality.

Finally, there is good news for Freesat viewers on the topic of on-demand television as it's been revealed that ITV and Freesat are working to launch ITV Player onto Freesat in the first half of 2010.

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