BBC iPlayer

BBC iPlayer
Developer(s)BBC
Initial release25 December 2007 (2007-12-25)
Stable release
3.2.15 / 13 July 2012 (2012-07-13)
Windows standalone application, no longer developed, instead it runs on any supported web browser
Written inJavaScript, Adobe AIR, Objective-C, Java
PlatformWindows, 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 February 10, 2015), Wii U (discontinued in January 2017)
Available inEnglish, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic,[1] Irish
TypeMedia player software
LicenceBBC iPlayer applications are proprietarily-licensed. Users also require a TV licence and a BBC account[2][3]
Websitewww.bbc.co.uk/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]

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]

  1. ^ Hewines, James (2 December 2008). "BBC iPlayer Goes Local". BBC Internet Blog. British Broadcasting Corp.
  2. ^ a b "Why must I sign in to a BBC account to use BBC iPlayer? | iPlayer help". BBC. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  3. ^ "Do I need a TV licence to use BBC iPlayer? | iPlayer help". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  4. ^ "BBC iPlayer moves away from Flash and towards HTML5 – BBC News". BBC News. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  5. ^ "BBC Sounds branding replaces iPlayer Radio – RadioToday". RadioToday UK. Archived from the original on 18 October 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  6. ^ "Can I watch programmes in Ultra HD on my connected TV? | iPlayer help". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  7. ^ published, Kevin Lynch (14 November 2022). "BBC iPlayer will show the World Cup in 4K HDR, but there's a Dolby Atmos catch". TechRadar. Retrieved 25 March 2024.