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Original poster

BBC iPlayer no longer available on Samsung smart TV?

95 replies

BettyJean · 09/12/2019 19:38

Wondering if anyone else was having this issue? We bought a new Samsung smart TV in 2015 and as of today, we can no longer watch iPlayer on it. The BBC have changed the iPlayer app so that it’s no longer available on Samsung TVs.

We don’t have an aerial at our property, so we only have a TV license so we can watch iPlayer. Does anyone know if the BBC are trying to fix this? If not I’ll cancel my TV license.

OP posts:
NannyCP · 10/12/2019 17:56

Thanks Foldgate1 I'll try it later. 👍

ViveLEntenteCordiale · 10/12/2019 18:23

We seem to have a Beta version of iPlayer - could that help anyone? Installed by DH but not sure why or how and he's away so can't ask. It's working on a Samsung bought in 2016.

Original poster
BettyJean · 10/12/2019 19:56

@ihaventgotaname123

Any consumer law experts reading?

Mine is from John Lewis and I’m still in the 5 year guarantee period. I suspect they will wriggle out of the TV not working due to software but I’ve still got the accidental damage cover...

OP posts:
Original poster
BettyJean · 10/12/2019 19:57

The dog knocked it off the shelf and it smashed. I’m tempted.

OP posts:
KnifeAngel · 10/12/2019 20:18

Sony are no better my parents have a Sony smart TV from when they first came out. The smart bit only worked for two years.

Logjam · 10/12/2019 20:34

We have a roku and the iplayer works on that but it's bloody annoying - the remote is quite moody.

Logjam · 10/12/2019 20:38

It's enough to make you boycott Samsung. Will definitely not be buying another!

orangeteal · 10/12/2019 20:44

This is why I will never buy a smart TV again. The technology advances faster than I'm happy to replace TVs. When our smart functionality dies I will use a fire stick and never buy smart again. TVs should last years, we shouldn't be forced to upgrade after a few years with an otherwise workibg TV due to unsupported apps.

SpoonBlender · 10/12/2019 20:57

@orangeteal Whether or not the TV is smart makes no difference - you can still bang some external stick into it anyway whether it's clever or not.

I do like having the schedule and recorder/pause-play built into the telly, myself.

orangeteal · 10/12/2019 21:03

@SpoonBlender yeah but it's makes paying more for a smart tv at the start pointless if you end up having to stick a £20 Amazon stick in it!

mellicauli · 10/12/2019 21:05

firestick will sort this out

WombleishMerryChristmasOfThigh · 10/12/2019 21:08

I've just checked. No problems loading iPlayer on our Samsung smart TV.

MsPepperPotts · 10/12/2019 21:24

You can also use a Playstation or Xbox for watching iPlayer and other apps.
Samsung are really bad at not keeping the software updated on various apps on older model TV's(i.e. more than a couple of years old).

enjoyingscience · 10/12/2019 21:31

Mine has died too. I can get to the point of playing a programme and it gets stuck. Software is version 2900, saying it can’t find any newer versions, so not sure what to do. I’d never buy a Samsung again, but not sure how that helps in the short term.

MamaFlintstone · 10/12/2019 21:32

I’m having the same problem. Will have to try deleting and reinstalling tomorrow as that seems to have worked for one or two people. If not I’ll have to get a Firestick. IPlayer is essential for toddler containment!

Indi70 · 10/12/2019 21:35

Workaround solution for me is to view iplayer through my virgin cable box - plays fine but very slow in loading up compared to how the Samsung worked. I think bbc are equally at fault here.

FlamingoAndJohn · 10/12/2019 21:38

I agree with some previous posters.

Get a chrome cast and use that to watch BBC iplayer via your phone.

enjoyingscience · 10/12/2019 21:42

It really does feel like throwing good money after bad putting a stick in a supposedly smart TV. I know it would work, but it’s really quite annoying.

DeckTheHalls2019 · 10/12/2019 23:55

We've lost iplayer on our Samsung too. There was an update available but it didn't fix the problem.

Thanks @Foldgate1 you're a telly wizard, I followed your instructions and downloaded the firmware from the website and updated via usb and although I'm still getting the update message when I load iplayer, I can now go in and watch stuff. Thank you!

Logjam · 11/12/2019 11:19

@Foldgate1 Thank you - that worked!

PrayingandHoping · 11/12/2019 11:21

I've checked my 2013 Samsung smart tv and bbc iPlayer still working fine. A note came up saying make sure it was up to date but it had obv done it automatically as it then went on a loaded as normal

EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard · 11/12/2019 12:10

Turned on mine this morning (2014 TV) and the software has now updated by itself. Yesterday it said it was up to date, but they've obviously released it now for my set.

FlamingoAndJohn · 11/12/2019 12:47

It really does feel like throwing good money after bad putting a stick in a supposedly smart TV

A chrome cast is about £20. Stick it in the back of the tv and it allows you to watch loads of stuff.
www.argos.co.uk/product/8679756

Nonnymum · 11/12/2019 13:30

I've reset the smart hub but still no luck. BettyJean I cany work out how to delete and reload the app though. How do i do that to see if it works

Logjam · 11/12/2019 14:39

@Nonnymum do as Goldgate1 suggested - a manual upgrade to software (you'll need a computer and a USB stick - it's pretty easy!

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