Channel 4 has today announced forthcoming new features to its 4oD service, including live streaming of channels, offline viewing on mobile and 'pause and play' across a number of devices.

At today's Channel 4 Upfront 2013 event, the broadcaster confirmed plans to build on the success of 4oD, which serves nearly one third of young people in the UK, according to Channel 4 data.

From early 2013, Channel 4 will set up 4oD for the increasingly multi-screen future, including the addition of a "watch live" option, enabling users to stream all the Channel 4 channels on iOS and Android devices.

Channel 4 will also become the first commercial broadcaster to launch free, ad-supported offline viewing on its video on-demand service.

Viewers will be able to download and watch many of their favourite Channel 4 shows, such as Homeland and Hollyoaks, offline on their smartphone or tablet, starting on iOS in early 2013 and expanding to Android later in the year.

The 'pause and play' service enables users to pause a 4oD programme on one platform, and then resume their viewing from the same point on a different device.

Also next year, 4oD will launch on Sky's Catch-Up television service, along with Android devices, Freesat's Free time TV guide and Samsung's connected TVs.

"We're very excited to be the first commercial public service broadcaster in the UK to offer mobile offline viewing, enabling our viewers to catch up with Channel 4 wherever they may be," Channel 4's commercial & business development director Sarah Rose said.

"And the introduction of 'Watch Live' on the move and cross platform 'Pause and Play' is great news for our young-skewing audience who are increasingly watching our content on multiple mobile devices."

Channel 4 said that these three new 4oD products are part of a "package of benefits" being offered to its viewers for their participation in a viewer engagement programme.

More than 6m viewers have registered to the programme, giving Channel 4 valuable data on how people consume their TV and digital entertainment.

Channel 4 said that around 10,000 new registrations are being submitted every day, and the programme now reaches one in three 16- to 34-year-olds, offering the broadcaster "vital insight into one of its core demographics".

At Upfront 2013, Channel 4 confirmed that it will launch a new digital ad product, called Adapt, next year.

Bringing together the data insight from the engagement programme with video on-demand innovation, Adapt will enable advertisers to target logged-on 4oD users based upon their age, gender and location.

Channel 4 sales director Jonathan Allen said: "2013 will be another fantastic year of innovation for Channel 4 and I'm delighted that we will be kicking it off with such an exciting range of platform and product developments, as we continue to drive our viewer registration initiative and engage more deeply with our audiences through content and advertising."