BBC Media Player
Once you have downloaded this application, continue to use your favourite BBC websites and apps on your Android device as normal. Whenever you play any video or audio the BBC Media Player will launch and handle playback of the content.
Please note that information about your playback experience is collected when you use the BBC Media Player app. If you are not happy to be included in our usage reporting, please do not install the app. For more information visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/privacy/devices.
Permissions-----------You may notice that when you install the app it asks you for permission to access your phone's network communication, phone calls, and system tools.
These are standard Android app permissions that are defined by the Google Android platform. The 3 permissions the BBC Media Player app asks to use are:
• Network Communication
- full internet access.Granting this permission provides the BBC Media Player app with access to the internet so it can play programmes.
• System tools
- preventing phone from sleeping, retrieve running applications.Granting this permission provides the BBC Media Player app with the ability to prevent the phone going to sleep when you are watching a programme.
• Phone Calls
- read phone state and identity (Android Honeycomb and below only).Granting this permission provides the BBC Media Player app with phone communication status and notifies the application if the phone rings or a phone call is in progress. We only use this permission to ensure that the BBC Media Player pauses if you receive a phone call and temporarily reduces its audio when you receive a text message or other notification while watching a programme. The BBC Media Player app does not access or store any personal information, phone numbers or IMEI numbers.
Category : Entertainment
Reviews (28)
Doesn't work. I used to freely watch videos within BBC News, but an increasing number of reports now need this app. First attempt I got an error saying the content wasn't working, second attempt, it didn't load at all. This is poor show for a World Leading Broadcaster... interesting they seem to think their technology will compete with Netflix...
Very unreliable App - plays well for 5 minutes then the video starts lagging to the point of freezing while the audio still plays. The only way to recover for me was to restart the app, i.e. go to the BBC page for the video on Chrome and launching the video again. Tried all recommended troubleshooting measures and more but the problem still persists. Solution: Uninstall the app from the phone and just watch the video on Laptop or PC, save the memory on your phone for something that functions
Ridiculously battery hungry. If content played natively through a browser instead of this app this wouldn't be an issue. I just watched Final Score and it ate up 35% in 85 minutes. I can watch 4hrs of content on other platforms for half that on my Note 9. Just to be clear, I only use this app because I cannot find an alternative and I have to. You can't even change the aspect ratio. It's just poor. Granted this is a free app, but my licence fee costs a lot more than any app. I expect better and, quite frankly, so should you.
The BBC seem to lack talented programmers. Why can't they create one app to stream content, be it live TV, cloud content, downloaded content, radio or readable content? Why create a media player, iPlayer, radio player, news website and foreign language versions of some of the above? It's a waste of money to have so many people having to update separate apps, when one app can do the job! Shame on you BBC for being so wasteful of our money and then crying that you want more. Be more efficient.
I resent being forced to download the app before I can use BBC Iplayer! I don't want it taking up all the spare space on my phone. I have it downloaded elsewhere for when I want to watch a programme! There is no point in getting emails about programmes I might be interested in if I can't then watch the clip I've been sent! It's very frustrating!
Used to work fine on my Android tablet. In early 2019 it stopped working. Video just appears to load endlessly. I now have to copy the URL for any BBC video into my browser to watch it. I hope the app can be fixed. My tablet is Samsung Tab S4 8" with all apps updated. It works fine on all other video apps I use.
This app is a gimmick, do not download. BBC news will AT RANDOM bring you to this page when you click play on some videos - even though it isn't needed to play any of them. Plus, even though in the US you are supposed to be able to watch some of their programming ALL of their shows are blocked outside of the UK, except for 30 second news clips. Don't download this just go to your video the next day then suddenly it will play without this app.
This was very good! I'm a bit annoyed that you have to download this app to watch educational or other videos. It's really good though! My little cousin loves watchimg the educational videos! Sometimes, he can be a bit too addictive. Four stars! Amazing app! No glitches or bugs (although there are a few, but doesn't every app have bugs?) and it's amazing! Giving four stars because you have to download an app, but it's amazing!
BBC always make sure that you can watch the advertisement video before the news video you are clicking on. Most of the news videos however never start rolling, or spend most of their time buffering once they do. BBC needs to do something to make sure you can watch the videos, otherwise what's the point of making and posting them on your new site!!??
Does not work. BBC keep replacing working apps with so-called "improved" apps. IPlayer was OK for radio stuff before the useless 'Sounds' app came along. Same applies for videos before the BBC foisted a very poorly designed & badly written/implemented 'Media Player'. BBC clearly don't know how to properly test their IT products before releasing them. Sadly, the BBC has degenerated into sub-third rate organisation and now is usually my last choice broadcaster where it used to be first choice.
This is a nonsense. If I use the BBC's news app it tries to force me to use their media player. Yet another install! My workaround is to copy the link from their share icon and paste into a web browser. Works perfectly.
BBC iPlayer is forcing me to download this app in order to watch videos. That would be acceptable if the BBC Media Player app supported all the features of the iPlayer. For example I used to be able to cast the video to my Chromecast device and this is no longer possible. I'll reconsider my review if feature parity is achieved.
Related videos don't run, (Samsung s3 tablet) All of my devices BBC Sounds Crashes all the time. Key board sits over what I am typing. It can't be moved out of the way. Please Fix... Can't get out of the 3 questions, as I can't see the button. Help just try and write a review. It maybe not possible.
Each time i try to watch a bbc clip as part of homework after a few seconds in the clip the video freezes plus you should be able to just watch the video in the browser instead of having to install this dumb app which doesn't even work!!!
Its unbelievable that you are forced to download this in order to watch any content! Should be able just to do it through Iplayer or even watch 10-30 second clips on the mobile site. I will go and get my news, sport and other quick on the go info elsewhere when this app no longer exist and it can be done via the web on android.
I updated my device a few days ago(MiUi 11; Android 8.1.0). Whenever I play a video, an intrusive message pops on the screen. I know Flash will not be available soon. Given my system specifications, your help page says I can't do anything about it. I can't afford to sacrifice the amazing content you offer. Please help me. As per my understanding of technology, my device is relatively new. Its just 1.5 years old. Xiaomi, the device manufacturer, provides prompt updates. Latest was 3 weeks ago.
Which idiot designed this? Seriously, does user testing exist these days? Why would you put a huge banner across a third of the screen with the close button so inaccessible. By the time you've never to talk the close the video has finished. Then it doesn't exit back to the BBC news app and you're stuck
absolutely horrible, was forced to download this app just to watch stuff that's on BBC iplayer and picture quailty is terrible. There's no option to even change media player and use the built in andriod one. Fix it or get rid of it permanently the latter would be better.
Link from BBC website sent me to install this when the short clip I was trying to watch could easily of been played in the browser. Once installed it gave me two options, firstly to install further BBC apps, hmm why? Secondly a link that sent me back to the BBC news on a browser. Genius Anyway never got to watch the video clip, well done bbc
I just get the message "this content doesn't appear to be working. Please try again later." Given that these are videos in the BBC News app, often they aren't available later, so it reflects badly on that app, too!
WORKAROUND fior those struggling to watch bbc videos with this app on tablet: if using Chrome browser, go to menu and check Desktop Site - then video plays (for me reliably, instantly) in-browser... as it should be in 2019! Hth, my fellow Media Player sufferers.
Just does not work. This app hasn't been updated in over 3 years yet still many embedded videos in the main BBC app request it. It's absurd some still do and no-one has gotten around to just removing this when some videos play fine in the main app
I like being able to hear BBC radio programs, but the ap doesn't work so you can hear a whole program uninterrupted. Previous versions worked better.
Abslute trash! I have work to do for my school and I was only 5 seconds into the video and it just stopped. I would love to rate this 00.00 but I can't. Just fix it and I'll put it 2 up. I had to disinstall 2 goddammed apps for this trash? No thanks! Please fix it so I can work!!
Although this application worked beautifully, I could see a very concise weather report. It ate my battery very badly. I do not know if this was/is a phone issue as well. But I would not consider using it again. Such a pity, but I need my phone. Thank you
I would rate this a zero if I could. This app does not work for video content just news, you will be going in circles trying to find shows and videos. I deleted this within minutes.
When i was trying to watch a video for my home learning it first told me to click the link. I pressed the link and it told me i had to install the app first. I never had to get an app befor just to watch a 5 minute clip ever in my learning. I pressed install a few minutes ago and its not downloading,I have lots of space so i don't know why its not working..
Try to play a video clip in the BBC news app and get sent to the Play store to install this. A massive banner fills the top quarter of the screen telling me that the app won't work in 2020 and the 'x' on the banner doesn't work so can't get rid of it. Then a bigger square pops up with a type of privacy agreement button. I press that and it opens up a browser. After all that, the video player screen fills up with the message that the video can't be played.