The BBC has confirmed it will launch a global iPad app for its iPlayer service later this year.

BBC director general Mark Thompson said the international app will cost less than £6.13 a month upon launch. The app will also give subscribers access to BBC archive programming.

Thompson told a Financial Times Digital Media & Broadcasting conference in London this morning that the BBC were following in Hollywood's footsteps and “looking at a series of windows” for shows, to “optimise value across that lifecycle”.

He also pointed towards collaboration between broadcasters, mobile phone companies and the government to create a “road map” for mobile television.

Thompson said: "I believe that there's a strong case for the UK's broadcasters, mobile phone operators, Ofcom and government to come together to develop a roadmap for the introduction of mobile TV in this country".

In January 162m programmes – an average of six per household – were downloaded via the iPlayer in the UK.

Thompson revealed the greatest month-on-month growth on iPlayer use was through iPads, smartphones and games consoles.

He ruled out launching a BBC social network but said it was in conversations with Facebook and praised YouTube as a great environment for the "sampling" and "marketing" of BBC programming.