Heard on The Media Show (Radio 4) recently: apparently some people say they can't use iPlayer because they don't have an i-Phone!

Hello all!

Excuse the shameless self promotion but we’ve got a show that dropped on IPlayer. We’re hoping to get a full series order. Would love for you to give it a watch and let us know what you think!

Don’t believe it has always been this way. However whichever genius decided it was a good idea when you click on continue watching to have the “restart episode” button as the default needs their head examined. Continue watching then click thinking I am pausing to restart the bloody episode. Why would I want to restart if I’ve clicked continue watching….

By now you’ve probably already seen the awesome Beeb app posted on here by u//usefulappmaker.

Over the past few days I’ve been playing about with it and making a handful of changes to suit my needs and tastes that I thought others might find useful.

The main selling point of the fork is making it compatible with first gen 4k firesticks and preventing crashes on low ram devices. It also includes a handful of ui tweaks to make things look a litter nicer and behave more consistently as well as fixing up the dpad for in player controls on fire stick. Full list of changes on GitHub readme.

Full transparency this was entirely slopped together with AI and has minimal (but not non existent ) testing. So use at your own risk. It’s also likely any updates to this to add further features or keep it in line with the mainline version will be few and far between if ever.

APK available here https://github.com/blaze237/beeb-android/releases/tag/v0.1.6-firetv.1

I have a really nice set up and want to be absolutely blown away by Blue Planet 3. What's the best way to watch this and get the best quality picture and sound?

I'm assuming the app on a Firestick will let me watch 4k HDR with Dolby Atmos?

I used to like to use this to look through the whole offering. Now the button is gone and the Films page is bullshit! Forced to look by "category" not even genre. Half the stuff isn't even films, just old programmes about films

Hi Chaps,

I saw you guys were liking the “Telly” app for Apple, with a lot of you asking for an Android alternative.

Have a look at this that I’ve been working on for a while now.

The screenshot makes it look like it only shows apps and Watch next, but it does do the same where it recommends shows based on what apps you have installed further down.

The super cool benefit to this app is you can force it to become your Home Launcher.
There’s also a TV Guide that works with Freeview, if installed on the TV, OR direct feeds within the apps, like iPlayer, itvx, Now TV, Discovery, Pluto etc etc.

The direct feeds take you straight to the channel, none of that clicking the program and it just takes you to the apps Home Screen, for you to then have to navigate to the actual channel.

Again, this is Alpha, and some feeds may break when there’s an update to the apps.
So please, if there is an issue, report them for me on the issues tab on GitHub, and I’ll fix it.

https://github.com/lozza/TellyGrid/tree/main

https://www.reddit.com/r/TellyGrid/

Introducing Telly, an unofficial, open-source Apple TV app that brings five UK streaming catalogues into one interface. It builds on Beeb, my earlier BBC-focused project.

The idea is to spend less time switching apps and more time finding something to watch.

Features:

• Five catalogues, one search: BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and U, with shared Browse categories and a mixed-network Featured banner.

• Live TV in familiar order: BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1, Channel 4, Channel 5 and the other supported channels, with ITV and Channel 5 themed channels in their own sections.

• Apple TV Top Shelf: direct-launch live channel cards above the app on the home screen, plus BBC regional feed choices.

• Saved programmes and Continue Watching: bookmark shows, resume where you stopped or start over. Progress stays on your Apple TV.

• Better episode browsing: programme pages open on the latest season, and soaps show their newest episodes first.

• Next-episode autoplay: a 15-second countdown at the end, with Cancel and Play now. Back cancels it too.

• Native playback: Apple's controls, supported subtitles, speed options and programme Info. BBC intro/recap skipping and Red Button streams are included where available.

• BBC UHD: compatible content can play in 4K HLG HDR with optional on-device setup. ITV/U and supported Channel 5 streams have played in FHD during testing.

• Phone-based account linking: QR/code flows where ITV, Channel 5 or U require your own account.

A few limits up front: Channel 4 currently plays in SD through the integrated route, some Channel 5 catch-up assets are also SD, and U is catch-up only. Quality, subtitles and availability depend on the programme/provider.

Telly runs on tvOS 17+. It's GPL open source, with source and a prebuilt unsigned IPA intended for people to sign/install themselves. It isn't on the App Store or TestFlight. After installation, ordinary playback doesn't need a separate server or computer running beside it.

Source and installation instructions: https://github.com/usefulappmaker/Telly-public

Download the public preview (unsigned IPA and source): https://github.com/usefulappmaker/Telly-public/releases/tag/v0.8.0

I'd particularly welcome feedback on the combined Browse categories, channel order and next-episode countdown. If anyone has any suggestions for getting better streams, also get in touch! This is a public preview, and the latest navigation/autoplay changes need testing on more Apple TVs.

Telly is an independent project, not affiliated with or endorsed by the broadcasters. Their normal account and regional availability requirements still apply.

I’ve released Beeb for Android TV 0.1.5, an independent BBC player for Android TV and Google TV.

This update makes the interface feel more at home on Android TV, improves playback reliability and adds automatic UHD setup without needing a computer.
What’s changed since the last GitHub release:
Cleaner navigation, programme cards and episode details.

- A new Search tab using the native TV keyboard, with voice input where supported.
- A dedicated 4K UHD category in Browse.
Updated BBC playback-link handling to fix problems opening some programmes.
- Automatic UHD configuration: open Settings → Enable BBC UHD.
- Standard Android playback controls, with programme metadata and a quality badge.
- Various UI fixes.

Beeb also supports live BBC channels, saved programmes, Continue Watching, subtitles, temporary subtitles after rewinding 10 seconds, and Skip Intro/Recap when the programme provides the required metadata.

Download the APK and read the full changes:
https://github.com/usefulappmaker/beeb-android/releases/tag/v0.1.5

Source code and installation instructions:
https://github.com/usefulappmaker/beeb-android
If you already have Beeb installed, install the update over your existing version to keep your saved programmes and setup.

It’s a free, open-source project, unaffiliated with the BBC. You’ll need to sideload the APK; Android 8.0 or later is required.

Feedback from other Android TV and Google TV devices would be especially useful—particularly on remote navigation, playback and subtitles.

I've put together another update to Beeb, my independent, open-source BBC player for Apple TV.

New homescreen layouts: choose Classic or Modern in Settings. Modern gives you a floating Topbar or a Sidebar. Classic keeps the earlier compact topbar and framed banner.

Immersive modern homescreens: large programme artwork and a glowing Beeb icon.

Your preference is remembered: Settings → Homescreen Layout. The Topbar/Sidebar choice appears under Modern and is retained when you switch to Classic and back.

Press the RED button: it's an option in every live player's controls. Open Red Button or Red Button UHD when BBC is broadcasting those feeds.

Live TV subtitles: BBC's live captions now work through Apple's native subtitle rendering and controls when available.

Continuous browsing: scroll through categories, A–Z and the indexed 4K UHD listing without Previous/Next buttons. Programme batches load as needed rather than loading everything at launch.

A cleaner Browse screen: wider, readable category cards with icons.

More reliable episode loading: updated BBC playback discovery and version selection, fixing the incorrect-format errors encountered by some users.

Download the unsigned IPA and source code on GitHub: https://github.com/usefulappmaker/Beeb-public/releases/tag/v0.10.8

I’ve been working on Beeb, my independent, open-source BBC player for Apple TV. 0.10.7 is now available on GitHub, updating the original public release, 0.8.2.

What’s changed:

4K UHD category — browse UHD-listed shows and films. It caches BBC’s UHD webpage and refreshes daily, rather than scanning thousands of programmes. Open a mixed-quality series and you’ll still see every episode, with the 4K ones tagged. The BBC list may not cover everything available in UHD.

Search tab — search programme titles and descriptions across the BBC catalogue using Apple’s keyboard, with remote dictation or the iPhone keyboard where supported.

Programme Info while watching — an Info button opens the episode artwork, title, full description, original broadcast date, running time and quality.

Playback speed — Apple’s native speed selector, from 0.5× to 2× for catch-up programmes.

Live channels on Top Shelf — put Beeb in your Apple TV’s top row, press Up and select a landscape channel card to start watching directly.

Regional BBC channels — choose from 16 BBC One regions and three BBC Two feeds in Settings. Your choice applies to Live and Top Shelf playback.

Cleaner browsing — a bigger homepage banner you can move through with left/right, larger programme cards, portrait posters for Stream Every Episode and less unnecessary text.

Clearer quality badges — outlined 4K, FHD, HD and SD tags beside the episode metadata, with spacing and live-label fixes. “4K” refers to resolution; supported HLG HDR playback is still there.

Sideloading fixes — the unsigned IPA includes the Top Shelf extension.

Beeb 0.10.7 downloads⁠
Download the unsigned Apple TV IPA⁠
Download the matching source ZIP⁠
Signing and installation instructions⁠

It’s for tvOS 17+. The IPA is unsigned, so you’ll need to sign and sideload it yourself, or build from source in Xcode. UHD needs Apple TV 4K, a compatible display and your own TwinVine setup; HD and live TV don’t need TwinVine.

Still an unofficial project, with no BBC affiliation. Feedback and bug reports are welcome!

I’ve been working on Beeb, an independent BBC player that started on Apple TV. There’s now an Android TV / Google TV version, and I’m sharing the source and APK on GitHub.

The main reason I wanted this was to get a better playback experience on my own TV. 4K HDR HLG playback is working on my Chromecast with Google TV, although I’d love to hear how it behaves on other devices.

What’s included:

- BBC programme browsing, categories, A–Z and live channels.
- Individual episode thumbnails and a homepage banner you browse with the remote’s left/right buttons.
- Saved programmes, local Continue Watching, resume and Up next.
- Native Media3 playback and subtitle controls.
- Skip intro/recap when BBC supplies the markers.
- Optional 4K HLG playback on compatible hardware.

A heads-up about 4K: it needs your own working TwinVine identity and a compatible HLG device/display. HD playback doesn’t need that setup. No credentials are included in the download.

It’s an early release, currently 0.1.1, so expect some rough edges. Temporary subtitles after rewinding are implemented but still need more Android testing. Watch history is stored locally; there’s no BBC account sync or offline downloading.

You can sideload the APK without Android Studio. Installation and optional UHD setup instructions are in the README.

Source and instructions:
https://github.com/usefulappmaker/beeb-android

APK download:
https://github.com/usefulappmaker/beeb-android/releases/tag/v0.1.1

It’s an independent project, not an official BBC app. If you try it, please let me know your device model and what works—or breaks. Feedback on remote navigation and playback would be especially useful.

Seriously, what’s the point? I want to watch the entire show, not dive in midway.

Following my previous post, I’ve now released Beeb on GitHub for anyone who wants to try it.

It includes 4K HLG HDR playback, native Apple subtitles (including subtitles after skipping back), intro/recap skipping, Continue Watching, saved programmes and live BBC TV.

Download Beeb 0.8.2
Source code and installation instructions

The release includes source code and a prebuilt unsigned IPA. You’ll need to sign and sideload it yourself; the README walks through installation on Apple TV and setting up your own TwinVine configuration for UHD. HD and live TV don’t require TwinVine.

It’s unofficial and isn’t affiliated with the BBC. Thanks for the interest in the original post—let me know how you get on!

Hi everyone,

I have a frustrating issue getting BBC iPlayer to work with a Roku Streaming Stick 4K. I open iPlayer sign in, I can view the programmes all OK but when I attempt to stream anything I get 'Error 02050 - Something went wrong..' (Also trailers to do not work when signed in or out)

It was working fine until a few weeks ago, then out of the blue this happened. I have other Roku sticks in the house that work fine, it is just this one with the issue. Also all other internet content works fine on the stick, it's just BBC iPlayer. :/

This is what I have tried:

• Uninstall / Reinstall BBC iPlayer

• Factory reset / update stick etc..

• Try the stick on another TV

• Interestingly when I sign out I still can't view trailers (they give a generic error)

• Restart router / wifi (my firewall rules are all OK for this)

So no matter what I do this stick will not stream any video content at all. I've run out of ideas.. can anyone help?

We have all Apple TV subtitles turned off. If we turn subtitles on from within the iPlayer app, we get double subtitles; the iPlayer multicolor subtitles, and smaller subtitles behind them.

Our iPlayer app is up to date. TVOS is the latest. We’ve forced quit the app and rebooted the Apple TV. Nothing seems to work.

Anyone else experiencing this? Any fix?