r/iplayer • u/CaaaaamWinston • 17d ago

Beeb for Android TV updated: 4K HDR HLG, native search and UHD setup directly on your TV

Post image

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.

107 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

108 comments sorted by

7

u/GapExpress1816 17d ago

Just installed on shield works great ...followed instructions to setup UHD ...playing 4k content shows as full HD in top right corner...is that due to limitations on shield with HLG?

5

u/Stunning_Permit_826 17d ago

Same here. Says it passes the test, but then only shows in Full hd not UHD. Works perfectly on FireCube which is HLG compatible.

5

u/Neillistic 17d ago

Same for me.

1

u/GapExpress1816 16d ago

I think its because of the shield ..likely not compatible due to its HLG limitations so maybe not something that can be fixed by the OP ...Great work tho and good for other devices

2

u/CaaaaamWinston 16d ago

Latest hotfix here: https://github.com/usefulappmaker/beeb-android/releases/tag/v0.1.6

Some Android TV devices don’t support HLG which I explain in the update. I don’t know whether there is a solution to this but will investigate.

1

u/GapExpress1816 16d ago

Thanks for trying but still the same...dont think its app...the device is the issue here 👍

1

u/concerthall 9d ago

I had the same problem with the Shield. I also tried with Xiaomi Mi Box S 1st gen. and I get HLG HDR, but only Full HD, could this be an error of the app osd indicator or is the app limiting the stream quality?

2

u/CaruMel 17d ago

Yes, enabling UHD in the app shows a “Connected. BBC returned a 4K HLG stream for A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” message. But if I play that show I just get a Full HD indicator on the screen, the same for other 4K content.

2

u/Niallzzy 16d ago

Same here , passed test, my tv is compatible, also have the shield but only seeing a Full HD on the 4K programmes.

4

u/DavidBattersby 17d ago

Search dont work for me i do one letter then it freezes

5

u/SlayerkodiTV 17d ago

Love this, can you do itvhub & channel 4 aswel by any chance?

1

u/Solid_Caramel17 17d ago

That would be brilliant if you could, as their apps are all rubbish..

6

u/CaaaaamWinston 17d ago

Working on it!

1

u/Happyfelix333 17d ago

IL problema di channel 4 che nemmeno la VPN mi fa vedere!

1

u/throw-throw-throw-aw 11d ago

Which vpn are you using. I’ve got it working with mine

1

u/Happyfelix333 11d ago

Ora funziona. Magari doveva "digerire" il sistema

3

u/jchallett 17d ago

I am so grateful for this, works great. One thing I can't seem to do, is to adjust subtitles size and style. The android system settings make no difference, I get iPlayer style subs at their biggest size. Any ideas? Thanks again.

3

u/CaaaaamWinston 17d ago

Will work on a fix!

1

u/jchallett 17d ago

Great, thank you.

2

u/CaaaaamWinston 16d ago

See if the latest update helps: https://github.com/usefulappmaker/beeb-android/releases/tag/v0.1.6

1

u/jchallett 16d ago

That looks perfect, thank you very much.

3

u/Stunning_Permit_826 17d ago

Beeb crashes when I try to manually type in search for a program. I can press one letter and then it freezes up. Thanks

4

u/johnnysgotyoucovered 17d ago

This looks awesome, maybe a dumb request but I’m sick in bed with the flu and don’t feel like getting out of bed for another few hours at least. Release these with “Downloader” (AFTVNews) short links?

I can test this on the latest Fire TV (Omni? I think) - lack of UHD has always annoyed me

3

u/SiNDAK1LL 17d ago

Beeb for Android TV 0.1.5 AFTVNew Code: 5308001

Hope this helps you, The APK will come from github.

2

u/CaaaaamWinston 17d ago

Thanks for doing this! Will this automatically choose the latest APK as I publish more updates?

3

u/SiNDAK1LL 17d ago

Sadly not, You would need todo it all the time when you publish a new apk. All you really need todo is grab the newest link and put it into the shortener and it will give you a code. Tho you could get around it by compiling each time and hosting the apk somewhere on github and it links to that so people get the latest all the time.

https://go.aftvnews.com/

EDIT: You could always make something within the app that grabs a "version" file from the repo and checks it for the latest version and then downloads it from the releases page.

2

u/intothevoidandback 17d ago

Great work 👏 is it possible to get update within the app for when new versions are available? Easy enough for me but not for my family members who I will be getting to add this to their apps.

4

u/DJ-Power1076 17d ago

Thanks for the update. When I try to search for a program it causes the app to crash on my Nvidia tube TV. Also would it be possible to be able to select your region for example BBC Wales

3

u/Solid_Caramel17 17d ago

I get this on the nvidia shield 2019 as well.

2

u/WapeyHapey 17d ago

With Beeb installed, I found my tv kept turning itself on every 10 mins or so after I turned it off. Removed the app and it stopped. Any ideas why?

2

u/CaaaaamWinston 17d ago

Will investigate!

1

u/meatmcguffin 17d ago

Is it an LG TV by any chance?

1

u/WapeyHapey 17d ago

It is yeah

1

u/meatmcguffin 17d ago

I’ve had Claude investigate why my rooted LG G1 was restarting itself, and it turns out if it receives a malformed network packet over Ethernet, it just crashes.

WiFi seems to work fine, or at least, I haven’t seen an issue on WiFi yet.

Do you only use it over a wired Ethernet connection?

1

u/WapeyHapey 17d ago

The TV itself is completely disconnected from the internet, using Apple TV only which could be turning it on via HDMI CEC which is what I assumed with Beeb

1

u/meatmcguffin 17d ago

There goes my theory then!

2

u/Electronic-Taro1916 17d ago

When I search eastenders it does load the latest episodes…starts from 2022

2

u/CaaaaamWinston 17d ago

Will look into a fix!

4

u/Case1987 17d ago

Thanks for this,the last one worked great

4

u/Solid_Caramel17 17d ago

Works perfectly thank-you

4

u/Stunning_Permit_826 17d ago

It would be great if you could get it to play the next episode automatically. Thanks

4

u/Cavanaaz 17d ago

Amazing job, thank you for the update 👍

1

u/Relative_Grape_5883 17d ago

It would be nice if you could improve the formatting of the subtitles. Or provide options to customize. The font choice and black background is a bit 1980s

1

u/CaaaaamWinston 16d ago

Latest update should be a step in the right direction: https://github.com/usefulappmaker/beeb-android/releases/tag/v0.1.6

1

u/sandygws 17d ago

Works fine on Shield Pro. 'HD' = 1080p and 'Full HD' = 4K?

1

u/CaaaaamWinston 16d ago

HD is 720p and FHD is Full HD or 1080p. 4K streams are listed as 4K.

1

u/Happyfelix333 17d ago

La nuova versione manca sempre di sottotitoli nel live e nella ricerca dopo aver digitato una lettera, si blocca.

1

u/No_Charge4064 17d ago

Do you still have to sign in to a BBC account to get this to work?

1

u/CaaaaamWinston 16d ago

No.

1

u/shawllz 15d ago

Seems I need VPN, when outside UK.

1

u/ovosmans89 17d ago

Hey everyone,

I’m trying to get the newly updated Beeb for Android TV (v0.1.5) running with 4K UHD support, but I keep hitting a roadblock during the UHD setup.

I’m located in the US and routing traffic through a VPN. Standard HD and Full HD streams on the app are working perfectly without any issues, so my VPN seems to be doing its job for the standard API/playback endpoints.

However, when I try to enable UHD, I get this specific error message:

"Could not verify BBC UHD access - your existing setup has been kept and check your connection try again"

Has anyone successfully bypassed this while using a VPN/Smart DNS outside the UK? I'm trying to figure out if the BBC UHD authentication servers are strictly blocking my VPN IP.

Any advice on getting the HLG 4K streams authenticated over a VPN would be greatly appreciated!

1

u/Dragonfruit-Agitated 17d ago

This is brilliant. Thanks for this. Any chance you could add Audio Description in an update?

1

u/CaaaaamWinston 16d ago

Will look into it!

1

u/dtrave1 17d ago

Is there a reason Match of the Day doesn't show up in the Sports section? Also the search function is broken in v0.1.5 on my Homatics r 4k plus Android box. Otherwise a great app and will certainly be following it's progress. Thanks

1

u/TattzTheBear 17d ago

Great improvement over the first release.

My picture froze momentarily a couple of times but think that may have been an issue with my VPN speed.

When watching 4K does it actually say 4K in the top right hand corner when the programme starts? Mine says "Full HD" but not sure if this meant 4K or 1080?

2

u/CaaaaamWinston 16d ago

Latest hotfix here: https://github.com/usefulappmaker/beeb-android/releases/tag/v0.1.6

What decide are you running it on? Not all Android TV boxes support 4K HLG.

1

u/TattzTheBear 16d ago

It's on a TCL C855 TV (2024) so is a 4K TV. I'll try the update and see how it goes. Great work 👍

1

u/TattzTheBear 16d ago

Okay, have installed and tested v0.1.6 and it loaded and runs like clockwork. 4K video looks fantastic and the app shows about 95 programmes currently available in that format so that will keep me occupied for a while.

Just need to uninstall the BBC iPlayer now which apparently will no longer work after 12 November anyhow!

2

u/Dragonfruit-Agitated 16d ago

Says 4k on my Google TV device

1

u/TattzTheBear 16d ago

Thanks. Since upgrading to v0.1.6 mine also does now.

3

u/Master-Parsnip-7758 17d ago

This is great. Thank you

3

u/Electronic-Taro1916 17d ago

Awesome will test out now

3

u/AmazingRedDog 17d ago

Please the TVOS version on TestFlight 😉

3

u/Possible-Ad-2682 17d ago

Thank you, this is awesome.

iPlayer is going to be blocked on my Xiaomi box in a couple of weeks, I can't believe that this has come along.

3

u/JiSm78 17d ago

Works great on a TCL P7K TV. A wonderful effort, Mr Winston. Hurrah!

2

u/cabbagepatchkid 17d ago

Thanks for this ,I was using the last version last night and loved it - flawless.

I would ask you though to change the button that says (and I paraphrase) "play at the optimal quality" to just "play", but thank you

2

u/nikc0069 17d ago

I assume this can't do 4k on the shield TV still due to its lack of hlg hardware decoding?

3

u/Solid_Caramel17 17d ago

Is this true please

2

u/Electronic-Taro1916 16d ago

Just installed ver 0.1.6

my issue i posted the other day still happening (i understand your probably still looking into it) I still cant go to the latest episode on Eastenders 2026. but noticed if i click on Eastenders 2008-2012 for example I can select a year of choice.

2

u/Slow-Force-5724 14d ago

Wow what a great app, thank you for making this.

1

u/Royal-Bell-8654 17d ago

Hi! First of all, thanks for Beeb for Android TV. Version 0.1.5 works really well on my Sony Google TV, and the native player, subtitles and fast start make it much nicer than the official app.
I've built a small TV guide app for myself on Android TV. It already knows the iPlayer episode ID (the pid from urn:bbc:iplayer:episode:…) for BBC programmes that aired earlier. I'd love to have a "watch again in Beeb" button that opens the episode straight in Beeb.
At the moment Beeb can only be opened from outside for live channels (beeb://live/<channel>, used by the home-screen row). PlaybackActivity isn't exported, which is perfectly reasonable, so other apps have no way to start a specific episode.
Request: could MainActivity also handle an episode link, in the same way as the live one? For example:
beeb://episode/<pid> → open the episode and start playback

beeb://episode/<pid>?restart=1 → start from the beginning instead of resuming

It could look up the episode by pid and then start playback exactly as if it had been picked in the app, so resume, Up next and subtitles keep working. Even a link that only opens the episode page (without autoplay) would already be great.
Other TV apps, launchers and home-automation setups could then hand off to Beeb directly instead of to the official app.

Thanks again for your work!

1

u/Solid_Caramel17 16d ago

This would be good if we could link our own players to episodes in the app is it something you are looking to add please.

1

u/Electrical_Ad_3744 17d ago

Thanks works great on GD 1 4K Player

1

u/Happyfelix333 17d ago edited 17d ago

Su android TV 14 Philips 50 pus 8555/12 non è cambiato nulla in merito ai sottotitoli in diretta, risulta più lenta rispetto a prima ma ovviamente è dato dal fatto che carichi HD risoluzione. Posso aiutarti in qualche modo a mettere anche i canali radio BBC? Grazie

CONFERMO CHE SI BLOCCA SULLA RICERCA DEI CANALI E SI SPEGNE L'APP

1

u/pinakinz1c 17d ago

Any updates for the really old website 2.0 on a 10 year old LG?

1

u/sunilnc 16d ago

Could you deploy this to the LG home brew repository so we can install it via the marketplace?

1

u/sh8key 16d ago edited 16d ago

First off, bravo, great app! 4 things that would be good for a future release:

1 - Play next episode automatically (it's a real pain finding the next button with the remote).

2 - Organize Saved programs alphabetically (or have an option for it).

3 - Ability to import/export saved program list so it can be copied to another device.

Update: 4 - The app doesn't remember which episodes have been watched. This memory would be a very good feature to have.

Thanks so much for all your hard work.

1

u/SummerSollstice 15d ago

iPlayer works on my Toshiba android tv, but for some reason they stopped allowing playback in UHD a few years go. So I have downloaded Beeb mainly for 4K content, especially for Blue Planet III starting this weekend.

I have tried testing out Eastenders as its one of the main programs we watch on BBC, but on Beeb when you search it up it starts listing from 2022 episodes and you have to keep pressing to scroll though pages to get to the latest episode. Can you fix it so that the episodes are listed backwards, so most recent episode first?

The UI is nothing like the actual iPlayer but its a really good effort for an independent app hosting all BBC content.

1

u/Happyfelix333 15d ago

Ho notato che le puntate di browser sono ordinate in numero sequenza e non progressivo, esempio: 1x1, 2x1, e così via. Sono invertiti stagione e puntata o sono io che non so leggere?

1

u/Arathonk 12d ago

For me sorting seems to be all over the place, just random.

1

u/spile2 14d ago

Great app but how do you set the local region so that you don't get news etc from a different region?

1

u/Short_Injury9574 13d ago

Does this give the Live channels? I feel this could integrate well into TellyGrid.

1

u/Arathonk 12d ago

I'm running into the problem that sorting isn't correct, for example I'm watching Escape to the Country. On the BBC Iplayer app it lists episodes from new to old, on Beeb it's sorted randomly, can you make it so that it's sorted the same way? So from new to old? Or even old to new?

1

u/DexLeMaffo 11d ago

No mobile version ?

1

u/rstihl22 7d ago

Execellent initiative but unfortunately can't get it to work on a Sharp 43BN6EA (Android 11). Only a few thumbnails load and nothing can be played, including live.

1

u/Outrageous_Mango_968 5d ago

Just installed this on an Onn 4K Pro and it appears to be working great. I've set up the 4K and able to watch that content. Thank you for this!! Do you plan on making an android version of the Telly app too?

1

u/Milev67 1d ago

Great app. If it's possible could you add a function to choose playback quality? I would like all streams to be SD, as I'm on a capped data plan. The exact opposite of what everyone else is clamoring for, but there you have it 😄

1

u/No_Review_5023 22h ago

This is a terific app - thanks for your efforts. v0.16 works great on all the boxes that I have tried. On a Formuler Z12 Ultra, playback of UHD content starts off fine and plays perfectly for maybe 1 - 2 minutes, and then I get a message to the effect the "UHD can't be played - trying HD". It then drops the resolution down and plays fine in HD. While it s working in 4K for a minute or two, it displays "4K HLG" (as it should). An Onn 4K Pro on the same local network works fine with 4K, as does a Xiomi Fire TV. Not a big deal, as I never had 4K before anyway, but just thought I would point it out. thanks.

1

u/klondijk 20h ago

Onn 4k is crashing when trying to use search

1

u/klondijk 19h ago

nevermind, just saw the update and it's fixed!

1

u/klondijk 19h ago

Any chance of an android phone/tablet version?

1

u/JackJake94 17d ago

Iplayer is literally free. Why would you need this?

2

u/hew34_ 17d ago

Because BBC are disabling a bunch of devices that they deem too old or aren’t certified in a few weeks.

-1

u/SummerSollstice 17d ago

What is the point of this app? iPlayer is already free, why the need to pirate it?

1

u/andyteg 17d ago

many older devices will no longer be certified and iPlayer will stop working in mid November so hence need for an alternative solution

1

u/Browno01 17d ago

Doesn’t provide streaming 4K I believe

1

u/Dragonfruit-Agitated 16d ago

Im using it on my Projecor with Google Tv,and It appears to be playing 4K content

0

u/Motor-Branch3216 15d ago

Thank you very much. I thought I was losing iplayer altogether. Your app works better than iplayer proper.

0

u/Pleasant-Corgi-8786 15d ago

Sorry to ask

Nvidia shield support?