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BBC iPlayer

BBC iPlayer (stylised as iPLAYER or BBC iPLAYER) is a video on demand service from the BBC. The service is available on a wide range of devices, including mobile phones and tablets, personal computers and smart televisions. iPlayer services delivered to UK-based viewers feature no commercial advertising. The terms BBC iPlayer, iPlayer, and BBC Media Player refer to various methods of viewing or listening to the same content. To use the service, a valid TV Licence is required.[2]

Not to be confused with BBC Player.

Developer(s)

25 December 2007 (2007-12-25)

3.2.15 / 13 July 2012 (2012-07-13)
Windows standalone application, no longer developed, instead it runs on any supported web browser

Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Roku, Virgin Media (Streaming only), Freesat (beta), Sky Go (part of On Demand service), Sky TV, BT TV (part of On Demand service), Now TV, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Windows Phone 8, YouView, Wii (discontinued on 10 February 2015), Wii U (discontinued in January 2017)

BBC iPlayer applications are proprietarily-licensed. Users also require a TV licence and a BBC account[2][3]

In 2015, the BBC reported that it was moving towards playing audio and video content via open HTML5 standards in web browsers rather than via Flash or its Media Player mobile app.[4]


On 17 October 2018, the BBC iPlayer Radio brand was replaced with BBC Sounds.[5]


In 2019, the BBC improved the format quality, taking the highest available on iPlayer to 1080p (full HD) from 720p (standard HD).


On 20 October 2021, the BBC announced that BBC iPlayer would be given a new logo which would involve being rebranded as "iPLAYER".


Currently, some programs can be watched in UHD on iPlayer as part of an ongoing trial,[6] as well as streaming major live events in 4K on iPlayer[7]

Television licence requirements[edit]

Before September 2016, a television licence was not required to stream either BBC television or radio programmes from the iPlayer that had already been broadcast, though a licence was still required in order to watch live content. Since 1 September 2016, a television licence has been required to view any iPlayer content, regardless of whether it is live or on-demand.[57] Despite the requirement, the enforcement of this measure uses only a trust system, under which users must acknowledge a pop-up window warning of the new requirements. Neither the BBC nor TV Licensing announced any specific plans to implement detection measures.[58]


In September 2016, the BBC also announced that users would eventually be required to sign in with a BBC ID account to access non-children's content on the service.[59][60] In May 2017, the iPlayer began to encourage users to login with a BBC ID in preparation for this change. Media outlets suggested that the account requirement was intended to help the BBC collect personal information that could be used to trace those who were evading TV Licensing whilst using the iPlayer; Andrew Scott, launch director of the ongoing myBBC initiative, stated that the BBC might use account email addresses, along with existing methods, to help identify iPlayer users who did not hold a television licence. However, he repeatedly said that the account system was primarily intended to provide personalization features across BBC properties, such as content recommendations on the iPlayer, and the ability to continue watching a programme on one device from where it was left off on another.[61][62][63]

Television platforms[edit]

BT Vision[edit]

On 27 May 2008, BT began to charge BT Vision customers £3 per month for watching BBC Replay, a cut-down version of the iPlayer offering a more limited 30 hours of BBC programming per week.[82] A spokesman for BT said that its customers had previously been able to view only BBC on-demand content because of "technical issues".[83] A BBC spokesman said: "In line with other TV platforms where BBC programmes are made available on demand, the BBC requires that all public service content should be accessible via the lowest cost subscription tier. In this case, it is BT Replay."


From 1 April 2009, the Replay package was included in all of BT Vision's Value Packs but remained available as a separate, £2.93 per month, package to non-subscribers.[84]


On 11 November 2010, the BBC and BT announced plans to bring the full iPlayer package to BT Vision, replacing the BBC content on BT Vision's 50-hour "TV Replay" package.[85] BT introduced the iPlayer in a phased release, starting in early December 2010, with all BT Vision customers able to access the service on channel 990 by 22 June 2011.[86][87]

Digital media receivers[edit]

iPlayer downloaded TV programmes can be streamed to televisions via the NetGear EVA8000 and Linksys DMA2200 digital media receivers, through PCs running Windows XP or Vista, with Windows Media Center installed.[88]

FetchTV[edit]

On 23 July 2009, the first subscription-free digital terrestrial device to include the iPlayer went on sale in UK retailers. The FetchTV Smartbox connects to any broadband connection and gives access to the iPlayer and is a Freeview+ PVR.


FetchTV created its own version of the iPlayer, believing it was adhering to BBC guidelines, but support was refused by BBC Future Media and Technology. IP Vision made a formal complaint to the BBC in March 2009: the matter then passed to the BBC Executive's Fair Trading Complaints Panel, which rejected the complaint, and IP Vision then appealed to the BBC Trust. On 22 December 2009, the BBC Trust rejected FetchTV's request to release the product.[89] The Trust's Finance and Compliance Committee (FCC) found that the BBC had given reasonable arguments as to why IP Vision should not be allowed to go ahead with its self-build product.


The Trust FCC also rescinded new guidelines introduced by the BBC in October 2009, formalising a ban on third parties building their own commercial iPlayer products. The Trust concluded that the clarification amounted to a significant change to the syndication guidelines which should have been referred to the Trust for approval before publication.

Game consoles[edit]

PlayStation 3[edit]

Soon after the Wii release, several unofficial PlayStation 3 iPlayer proxy sites arose that used JavaScript to replace the UA string. On 2 December 2008, the BBC provided an official iPlayer application widget for the PS3.[121] Shortly after release, the PS3 accounted for 6% of all iPlayer traffic, making it the third most popular platform used to access the service behind personal computers (85%) and mobile phones and iPods (7%).[122] By January 2010, PS3 usage had risen to 8%,[123] and by November 2010, over 6 million people accessed the iPlayer through the PlayStation 3.[124]


In September 2009, the PS3 iPlayer was updated with H.264 playback and full-screen content.[125] Future plans for the PS3 iPlayer include features from iPlayer V3 scheduled for late 2010.[126] On 8 August 2011, the application was updated and now includes access to BBC HD, however, most content remains unavailable to PS3 users due to DRM restrictions.[127]


The PS3 iPlayer was withdrawn from October 2020 as part of a BBC closure policy for older devices.[128]

PlayStation 4[edit]

In October 2013, Sony confirmed that the PlayStation 4 would have the BBC iPlayer app. Additionally, they announced that BBC iPlayer would continue to be free to access and would not be part of the PlayStation Plus subscription service.[129]

Mobile platforms[edit]

Android devices[edit]

On 23 June 2010, after many months of complaints from Android users, BBC iPlayer officially announced support for the Android platform. Users can navigate to the usual BBC iPlayer website, and a mobile website is displayed. As a result of the BBC's decision to use Adobe Flash Player to handle video playback for Android devices on this website, users must be using Android 2.2 or later[149] (the earliest Android version supported by Flash Player).


There was also an unofficial but functional application for the Google Android platform called myPlayer, but all BBC content was removed in November 2010 as the service was alleged to be in breach of the BBC terms of use.[150] Another such application – beebPlayer – was removed from the market in May 2010 at the BBC's request.[151]


On 8 February 2011, the BBC announced that Android, alongside the iPad, would be amongst the first two platforms to receive a native iPlayer application.[152] The application was made available via the Android Market to UK users, but as with the earlier mobile website, the application uses Adobe's Flash Player for video playback and as a result is only available for devices running Android 2.2 to 4.0 since Android 4.1 does not support Flash Player.


On 4 September 2012, the BBC posted on their internet blog that Android users would soon be able to download programs using the BBC iPlayer app.[153]


On 19 September 2012, the BBC reported that an Adobe AIR-based iPlayer application had been developed for Android 4.1, as well as earlier versions. The application, named BBC Media Player, is intended to permit continued iPlayer support for the Android platform.[154]

BlackBerry devices[edit]

On 5 November 2010, an official BBC iPlayer app that allows users to stream live television and radio, and catch up on previously aired content became available for download on BlackBerry OS 5.0 (and higher) devices.[155] A Wi-Fi connection is needed for an "optimal viewing experience" but 3 and Vodafone are allowing it run on their 3G networks.

iOS devices[edit]

On 7 March 2008, a beta version for Apple's iOS devices (iPhone, iPod Touch, and later iPad) was released, allowing streaming over a Wi-Fi connection. An update released on 12 December 2011 allowed streaming over 3G.[156] On 4 September 2012, an update provided the ability to download programmes for up to 30 days, with a seven-day viewing window.[157] The EDGE connectivity on the iPhone, however, is not supported, as it is too slow for streaming video.[158][159]


Non-iPhone users were found to be watching and downloading streams intended for iPhone users allowing them to play them on alternative devices. The BBC modified the iPlayer service on 13 March 2008 to prevent this. [160] Through the month of June 2008, further methods were discovered by iPlayer users to watch and download streams intended for iPhones. A Ruby[161] hole was followed by the BBC introducing XOR encryption on parts of the downloaded files if a genuine iPhone was not detected.


The BBC introduced specially crafted web bugs, referrer checks and download chunk limits, such that only devices exhibiting this behaviour, i.e. a genuine iPhone handset, would be able to stream the video content. A cycle of updates and reverse engineering has followed such that all the various streams, both for the iPhone and Flash streaming service, are now able to be downloaded without the need for decryption or DRM circumvention. This has been made possible by various software which can effectively simulate a RTMP Flash client or an iPhone. In early December 2010, the iPhone MP3 access was being changed to use HTTPS. The server checks the client's certificate and only accepts connections for those issued to Apple. This change to the protocol not only prevents access to non-Apple devices but also disables use by a number of early-generation iPod Touch devices.


On 28 July 2011, BBC Worldwide released an international version of the iPlayer for the iPad.[40] A UK version of the iPlayer for iPad app was also launched, however, this version only allowed streaming video and did not allow any offline viewing. In December 2011, the iPlayer app was extended to work with the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Nokia N96 phone[edit]

On 18 September 2008, the BBC announced that a version will become available to the Nokia N96 mobile phone as a download service to allow viewers to watch programmes even when they are out of reach of Wi-Fi or 3G networks.[162][163] The launch date was set of 1 October 2008.


Shortly after on 9 September 2008, even before the BBC Nokia N96 download service had gone live, a method was published to independently download and play the iPlayer N96 3GP stream on other mobiles, Linux and macOS.[164]

Windows Phone[edit]

BBC Released BBC iPlayer app on Windows Phone 8 devices on 15 May 2013 as a mobile wrapper UI. Available on the Windows Phone Store.[165]

Additional mobile devices[edit]

In early December 2008, iPlayer was updated to include streaming radio and television, and extended to a variety of handsets[166] including Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, Nokia N8, Samsung Omnia, Sony Ericsson C905, Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 and Sony Ericsson W995.

BBC Store[edit]

BBC Store codenamed Project Barcelona launched in the UK and opened the archive to consumers and allowed users to buy a show and download it. BBC Store was approved by the BBC Trust in 2014 and the store launched in 2015.[167] It was initially hosted on a dedicated website but later integrated with BBC iPlayer.[168] BBC Store closed in 2017.

Overseas availability[edit]

BBC TV productions are paid for by the UK television licence fee and rights agreements with third parties. Thus, all BBC iPlayer TV programmes are accessible from IP addresses allocated to the UK only, as of 2011. However, most radio programmes can be accessed globally, with the exception of a few programmes, mainly sports broadcasts, that are affected by rights issues.


An international version of the iPlayer was launched on 28 July 2011 in eleven western European countries,[40] after receiving the approval of the BBC Trust in November 2010.[188] The international iPlayer takes the form of an iPad application which offers a limited amount of free content, supported by pre-roll ads and sponsorship, but its core business model is subscription (subscription costs approximately £5.00 per month). The global iPlayer app includes some features that are not in the UK version, including the ability to stream shows over 3G as well as Wi-Fi, and a downloading feature to store programmes on one's mobile device for offline viewing. At launch, 1,500 hours of content was made available, of which 60% had been produced and commissioned by the BBC, while 30% had been commissioned by the BBC but produced by independents. The other 10% was entirely non-BBC content, including ITV's Primeval, and Channel 4's The Naked Chef and Misfits. Launches in Australia and Canada followed by the end of 2011 as part of what was intended to be a one-year pilot.


Although US availability was also anticipated in 2011, an American launch date was never announced. Reports from the summer of 2012 claimed that American cable providers threatened to drop BBC America if the iPlayer, which duplicates much of the content on the cable channel, were made available in the US market. In a statement on the difficulties facing the US rollout, the BBC's Head of Communications for Global iPlayer Tessa Matchett said: "The United States is a very complex media market. Currently, we have one very successful cable channel in BBC America, and we’re looking into what options we have to roll out additional platforms in that country."[189] In May 2015, it was announced that the global iPlayer service would be discontinued.[190]


In early 2016, BBC Worldwide launched a version of the iPlayer service in Singapore, rebranded as BBC Player. The service is only available to Starhub subscribers who have subscribed to the BBC channels package in Singapore.[191] The service was extended into Malaysia in 2017, however, the service can only be accessed by UniFi subscribers who have signed up for the Jumbo pack on Hypp.TV. Access for Streamyx subscribers with the same Hypp.TV package was added a few months later.[192]


In March 2017, BBC Worldwide, as part of a joint venture with ITV plc, and BBC America co-owner AMC Networks, launched a new U.S. subscription video-on-demand service known as BritBox.[193][194]

Humour[edit]

In 2009, the BBC's April Fools' joke was a press release announcing the availability of the iPlayer on a specialised toaster, supposedly for users to watch breakfast television.[195]


The volume control of the iPlayer goes up to 11, apparently a nod to a scene about an amplifier volume control that goes up to eleven in the rock mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap (1984).[196]

UKTV Play

BBC Select (streaming service)

BBC Sounds

BBC Radio Explorer

BBC Store

BBC Three (streaming service)

Project Kangaroo

BritBox

ITVX

Channel 4

My5

List of streaming media services

– official site

BBC iPlayer

at BBC Asia

BBC Player

at BBC Online

"Ask Bruce" article on iMP