Features include:
- Watch live TV
- Catch up on the past 30 days
- Watch on Wi-Fi and cellular networks
- Download TV programmes to watch later (on devices running Android Jellybean and above)
- Browse Categories and Channels
- Cast content to your TV using Chromecast
- Share your Favourites across other devices with a BBC iD account
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We've developed the BBC Media Player app to improve video streaming playback on Android devices. You'll need to install this separately from the Google Play Store.
To make installation of the BBC Media Player as easy as possible, BBC iPlayer will prompt you to install it when you first play a streamed programme.
The BBC iPlayer app uses standard Android app permissions that are defined by the Google Android platform. The permissions the BBC iPlayer Android app asks to use are:
Photos/Media/Files
"Read the contents of your USB storage" & "Modify or delete the contents of your USB storage"
This permission is used to store downloaded programmes. The application must be able to write, read and delete these files.
Device ID & Call Information
"Read phone status and identity"
This permission is used to read the Android "Device ID". This is an anonymous ID that cannot be used to identify the user and is not used to track the user. It is used by iPlayer's content protection system to ensure that downloaded programmes can only be played on the device that downloaded them. iPlayer does not use this permission to determine the device phone number, whether a call is active, or the remote number in a connected call.
Other permissions (not explicitly mentioned when installing BBC iPlayer, as they are more general to most apps):
"Prevent phone from sleeping"
This permission is used by two features: Downloads & Chromecast.
While downloading a programme, the application prevents the system from sleeping when the device is locked, so the download can continue. This is only active while a download is in progress.
While "casting" a programme to a compatible receiver like Google's Chromecast, the application stops the system from fully sleeping when the phone is locked. This stops the application losing connection with the receiver so the phone can continue to control playback.
"Full network access"
iPlayer needs access to the internet to download programmes, schedules and information about programmes and configuration, and to send usage statistics.
"View network connections"
This permission lets iPlayer determine whether a network connection is available before accessing the network, and provide better error messages when it can't retrieve data.
iPlayer also determines what type of network connection is in use (Wi-Fi or Cellular) for the Downloads feature. Downloads are enabled when connected to a Wi-Fi network. On a cellular network, downloads are disabled/paused.
"Test access to protected storage"
This allows the app to check if there is space on your device to download programmes.
To give you with the best experience, certain details like your Search History and Favourites may be stored on your device or securely on BBC servers.
To analyse and improve the app, it also uses technologies similar to performance cookies used by the BBC. You can alter your settings for this on your device. For more information about this and privacy, cookies and iPlayer more generally, visit the BBC iPlayer privacy FAQ page at http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/tv/app_privacy, or the BBC's Privacy & Cookies site at http://www.bbc.co.uk/privacy/
The app was developed by Media AT (Media Applications Technologies Limited) which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation).
Full details of Media AT are available on the Companies House website at: http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/07100235.
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Richard Madigan
I've been using this app for over two years on a variety of higher end Android hardware and It's never been a reliable experience. Downloaded and catch up programmes often stutter and live TV is worse with frequent crashes. Chromecast frequently hangs and needs to be closed via the Android app manager even when the Chromecast stick itself is turned off. Bugs happen, but some of these have been around for years and are fairly severe.
Rated: 2 Star
Kevin Williamson
Can't watch any programmes it just freezes and gives me a black blank screen then forces a close.. can only watch programmes if I download them!!!!..
Rated: 1 Star
Paul Ashby
I have a new Lenovo Tab 2 A10-70 running Android 5-0-1. BBC iPlayer does not work despite recent updates. BBC Media player is as bad. This is 2015. Come on.
Rated: 1 Star
Dan Selby
Still (after months and several updates) completely broken on Galaxy Note 4, lollipop 5.0.1. Black screen, then freezes. Hopeless. :(
Rated: 1 Star
Ski Day
AFTER THIS UPDATE IT STILL ONLY WORKS FOR 6 SECONDS THEN THE SCREEN TURNS GREEN !! WHAT A WASTE OF TIME AND WHEN I CONTACTED THE BBC ABOUT THIS UNUSABLE APP, THEY BLAMED THE PHONE MANUFACTURER !#@&@*
Rated: 1 Star
Chris Payne
The app used to work great (Moto G, Android 5.1.1) for me, but the recent update seems to have caused issues - the app no longer runs smoothly, but stutters and freezes (not due to internet connection). Other apps like All 4 and Netflix seem to work just fine still... I don't know why but I'm quite sure it's down to the app. Hopefully the next update will sort this out.
Rated: 1 Star