BBC Finally Launches ‘Global iPlayer’ iPad App

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Barely making the announced August deadline, BBC Worldwide has finally launched its “Global iPlayer” iPad app—but only for those in western Europe, reports paidContent.

Originally announced in November last year, the Global iPlayer brings what is being called “editorially curated” content from multiple British broadcasters and producers to an international audience, with many shows being made available digitally (legally) for the first time.

(MORE: Global iPlayer to Offer BBC, British Video-On-Demand Internationally)

The service is launching first in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, The Republic of Ireland, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland, with programming available for a €6.99—around $10 U.S.—for a monthly subscription; annual subscriptions of €49.99, or $71.50 U.S., are also available.

No U.S. launch date has been announced for the service, although as recently as March, BBC Director General Mark Thompson was talking in terms of dollar cost for American subscribers. With the size of the U.S. market, success in the U.S. of shows like Doctor Who and Downton Abbey, and the creation in recent years of an American production arm of BBC Worldwide, it’s only got to be a matter of time. Personally, I can’t wait.

MORE: BBC’s Global iPlayer to Cost Less Than $10 A Month, Offer Uncut British Shows

Graeme McMillan is a reporter at TIME. Find him on Twitter at @Graemem or on Facebook at Facebook/Graeme.McMillan. You can also continue the discussion on TIME’s Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME.