Bbc I-Player

[FoxLee2]

Is this being stopped from tomorrow.  My husband says yes and from what I read it is about an app downloading stuff and watching offline.

[Maydup]

It's not closing altogether, only for those who had the app on their computer.

"We have made the difficult decision to close the BBC iPlayer Downloads application for PC and Mac, due to the low number of people using it and the cost required to keep it going," the BBC explained in a post on its website.

 

[Buenchico]

It's only the ability of BBC iPlayer's desktop version to download programmes that's being brought to an end.  The ability to stream them remains unchanged.

When iPlayer was first introduced, the availabilty of free wi-fi and/or a decent phone signal was limited.  So iPlayer users were able to download a TV programme (while, say, at home and using their home broadband) and then watch it later (while, say, out and about somewhere with no internet connectivity).  However very few people have been making use of that service in recent years because they can now stream iPlayer content directly over the internet (i.e. without the need to download it first).  So that part of iPlayer's functionality is being dropped from its desktop version.  (The mobile app will still retain that functionality though so that, for example, users can download a programme onto their phone and then watch it on a plane journey, even though their phone is in 'airplane mode' and thus without any connection to the internet).

Everything else about iPlayer remain unchanged.

[FoxLee2]

Thanks for your answers so nothing changes as far as me watching BBC programmes at a later date on my computer.

[barry1010]

There is a workaround for anyone wanting to download from iPlayer.

I will post it tomorrow if nobody else does

[Buenchico]

^^^ The long-term intention of the BBC (along with other broadcasters) is to switch off all of their Freeview transmissions and move everything entirely onto the internet.  So BBC iPlayer will then be at the very core of everything they do.  They're definitely not going to close it down!

[barry1010]

Download get_iplayer from this safe link https://github.com/get-iplayer/get_iplayer_win32/releases/tag/3.35.0

This guide tells you how to use it

https://www.squarepenguin.co.uk/guides/tv-download-guide/

It is legal.

[barry1010]

If you've got a smart tv you should be able to 'cast' your downloads from your phone or tablet should you wish to watch on a larger screen.  Works very well for me