In July 2007 the BBC started a small BETA version of iPlayer as a trial service . The BBC has also been criticised for saying that the iPlayer would ` launch ' on the 27 July 2007 , when what was on offer was simply an extension of the beta to an open beta , admitting more users in a controlled manner . This was done reportedly to allow British ISPs and the BBC to gauge the effect of the iPlayer traffic on the Internet within the UK .