BBC iPlayer Goes Live on New Apple TV in the UK

[Benjamin Frost]

If they sold BBC content outside the UK on monthly subscriptions, "those people" could supplement UK license payers.

Just sayin'...

Too true.

There's a wealth of content that the BBC hasn't released. It must be one of the largest, richest treasure troves of content in existence, yet it isn't available. I feel that the BBC could make a fortune selling it if they put their mind to it.

 

[BMcCoy]

Presumably it's the international syndication of comedy shows like Seinfield, Friends, Simpsons, etc etc etc that helped make the US studio channels so mega-profitable? Syndication is where the money is.
I think the BBC do sell some shows... just not many.

 

[Zoboomafoo]

If you yanks want our SUPERIOR BBC programming, move to England. Simple

You know nothing, Jon Snow.

 

[cjbryce]

Now if only they got off this region-locking rubbish and offered it outside the UK. As a matter of fact, all content producers should just end their utterly ridiculous need to region control content!

Why should UK license payers supplement those people?

That's not (quite) the problem. Like all broadcasters/CableCos some BBC shows are "imported" and the BBC only has the right to broadcast them in the UK so would get sued if they allowed iPlayer to work outside that region - a possible solution would be to region lock that content which they do not own worldwide rights to. With BBC-produced content, they have distribution agreements/their own channels outside the UK, sometimes subscription, so iPlayer outside the UK could be made open but the BBC would have to charge for it.

 

[elvislives]

coolo! next Amazon Prime!

 

[frosty001]

Another reason why this is a very good: It will encourage All 4, ITV Player to get on board. Am surprised they have not already as they've both established a catch-up with adverts service, unlike BBC who have more complex issues over catch-up / revenue.

 

[selfsilent]

Yeah we legally have to pay for the BBC it should be available on every platform we could possibly want and sold to those outside the UK to reduce our television tax as it were. It makes some of the best programming in the world.

No, we don't HAVE to pay for the BBC. If you never watch live TV and only watch it on catch up, you do not legally have to pay the licence fee.

You won't need to. It'll be there already. Much to my annoyance.

That must have been so annoying, having to press a few buttons to delete something. You could have just not used it.
It makes more sense to auto install it as most people will use it and wouldn't necessarily know it was there to download. Other channels are added automatically, why not BBC?

 

[page3]

I wonder how this compares to the excellent Auntie Player. Will find out tonight.

 

[Tech198]

haha...

I guess all that hard work iDownloadBlog did was using XCOde on the Mac and USB Type C connectivity to install BBC iplayer is now officially "for nothing" Don't u hate it when that happens..

(last time i checked there was still no Vicar of Dibley Island, but i'll keep at it till there is one)

 

[Crazy Badger]

How does it compare with the Auntie Player app?

 

[JGRE]

Notably, VPNs are blocked, so this is strictly UK-only.

That sucks, so only 7 out of 2978 worth downloading for the rest of the world.

 

[cjbryce]

The BBC do not do that; they take from a licence fee, they're not a tacky commercial outfit.

Oh, but they are, they very much are. BBC Worldwide turns over about £1Bn a year at a profit of about 14% from "tacky" commercial enterprises (and indeed tacky commercials) As soon as you're outside the UK you can see advertising on their websites and commercials during their programmes. They also directly "export" content, for example Top Gear and Doctor Who make the BBC a fortune.

It is only in the UK the BBC doesn't have an overtly commercial mandate.

 

[JGRE]

Why should UK license payers supplement those people?

Who says that we are not willing to pay? Don't assume......

 

[Gaspode67]

You know nothing, Jon Snow.

That's because he's on Channel 4 news, not the BBC

 

[NightFox]

Apple are now featuring this on the Apple UK home page, linking to a dedicated page: http://www.apple.com/uk/tv/entertainment/bbc-iplayer/

Glad they got this launched before BBC3 goes online-only next year.

 

[UKgaryb]

Does it have live-streaming of therein BBC channels? If so, that is very good to hear.

Yep.

 

[vincebio]

You know there is a pretty easy workaround for getting geo blocked apps working....if you have set up your Apple TV in your country but live elsewhere (I live in Amsterdam with a UK apple account/apple tv).

The iPlayer app appeared for me this morning.

http://videosift.com/talk/How-to-Guide-Watch-Netflix-from-Overseas-with-an-Apple-TV

Follow this guide and change the parts that apply to you.

It worked perfectly for my Netflix.

 

[SDAVE]

Notably, VPNs are blocked, so this is strictly UK-only.

BBC UK works fine for me on OS X and iPhone on PIA.

I bet you can setup a proxy on your router to route your Apple TV via Proxy and get the Apple Store to download and run the BBC Player.

I honestly prefer BBC than a lot of mainstream American media since I used to live there.

 

[RB1959]

Well I'm really happy that it's arrived on the ATV4. I think the interface looks really good, much better than the Samsung Smart Hub version and the Freesat Freetime version, but the IOS app still looks the best I'd say and is quicker to navigate. Anyway, the more ways to watch iPlayer the better.

 

[JGRE]

There are very easy ways to get around the geo-blocking that don't include VPN's.....

Tell me.

 

[apolloa]

That's nice, no where near enough for instance on the Amazon Fire TV you can subscribe and to lots of a la carte tv and film channels but it's America only! Nothing like it offered in the UK, on the UK Apple TV can you get things like HBO Go?

 

[attila]

Hopefully All 4 and Amazon Video aren't far behind..

When they do I'll get an Apple TV!

4OD and iPlayer perform horribly on PS3 and PS4!

 

[RB1959]

That's nice, no where near enough for instance on the Amazon Fire TV you can subscribe and to lots of a la carte tv and film channels but it's America only! Nothing like it offered in the UK, on the UK Apple TV can you get things like HBO Go?

HBO Nordic is available on the UK App Store but you'll need a Scandanavian VPN to use it. The app is on the UK ATV App Store as well but It's easier to use the IOS app and AirPlay to the ATV. It's the same content and in English.

 

[OneHandWaving]

4OD and iPlayer perform horribly on PS3 and PS4!

iPlayer and Netflix are virtually unusable on my Blu-Ray player and Tivo. The iPlayer app on the Apple TV is much, much, better in that regard - as is Netflix. After saying that I think that it was easier to find films and programmes on the old Netflix app on the ATV3.

 

[OneHandWaving]

Does it have live-streaming of therein BBC channels? If so, that is very good to hear.

Provided the BBC has streaming rights to the live programme yes. If they don't then you are shown a screen saying the content can't be streamed for legal reasons.