![]() Logo used since 2022 | |
![]() BBC iPlayer homepage in October 2017 | |
Developer(s) | BBC |
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Initial release | 25 December 2007 |
Stable release | 3.2.15
/ 13 July 2012 Windows standalone application, no longer developed; instead it runs on any supported web browser |
Written in | JavaScript, Adobe AIR, Objective-C, Java |
Platform | 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) |
Available in | English, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic,[1] Irish |
Type | Media player software |
Licence | BBC iPlayer applications are proprietarily licensed. Users also require a TV licence and a BBC account[2][3] |
Website | www |
BBC |
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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 by law.[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]