BFBS Player
Protection of minors from post watershed content is provided by enabling the parental PIN functionality.
The range of services includes the main UK TV services with services exclusively designed for the Forces. These are intended for viewers outside of the UK and are restricted as such, apart from Forces TV which is available in the UK. There is the full range of the different BFBS Radio services from around the World and these are available listeners both outside and inside the UK.
To use the app and the services you have to be a serving member of the British Forces and be able to authenticate as such through the Defence Gateway.
Category : Video Players & Editors
Reviews (28)
I am in Germany on Exercise but cant use bfbs tv it only says if your overseas change the settings but it does not work even i change the zone.
A handy app to have if you're in the forces however I don't use it all that often. Here's why: The amount of times the mobile app crashes is ridiculous, and usually at opportune times of programmes. Football, for example...the app crashes a lot whenever there's a major incident. I don't know whether the servers get overloaded but I feel the app requires far more support than it has currently and although the website I use on my laptop crashes too, it does so on a far fewer number of occasions.
Great app. Used this when based in Italy for 2 years and had no issues with it. It was better than the BFBS TV set top box it has more choices and catch up. If you are using it in the UK or on a device that connection ends on a UK IP address then you will have limited access. This is because of the broadcast rights that BFBS has. When outside the UK when you connect using an international connection (non UK IP address) then you get access to all channels
Updating my review as the situation has changed. I had issues accessing via my phone app and through the BFBS box on my TV. If people have issues then email the address that you can see at the bottom of other people's complaints. They sort it out the same day. App works well, exactly what I expected. Thanks.
This App used to be very awesome but right now, you could barely go 2mins without error message(Failed to load). It needs massive improvement. The stoppages are becoming more frustrating than its intended purpose which was a great one at the start.
terrible, can not watch any "live" show as the app is constantly buffering and just goes black, tried multiple devices, using wifi, ethernet, fibre even mobile data but nothing works. wouldn't recommend to anyone as its better to get someone to stream a channek live through facebook or a video call. Tried grtting BFBS to look into it and never heard back from them.
This is a great app for UK military personnel who have to use their Defence Gateway account to log in. It gives a variety of UK TV channels some of which should be expensive to subscribe to including premier film and sports channels. In the UK there are only 3 channels but it is abroad that it works best giving a wide range if channels. It needs a decent WIFI connection to work best.
Worked well in Italy and up until recently was fine in Portugal. Now I can stream everything to my tv cromecast with the exception of sky sports and bfbs sports when watching live football, I get the sound but no picture. Also the App keeps throwing up an error and I have to delete and reinstall... What has changed?
Used to be good. Recently when using the app I've noticed that the programmes seem to be delayed? For example trying to watch man utd vs Newcastle but still showing the Chelsea v Southampton game. It's been like this for a while now. Also be advised your email address doesn't work either!
Was a useful app but recent loss of casting for all TV (not just sort) renders the app pointless. This means a family overseas cannot watch shows together on a screen. We'd bought a Google cast specially to be able to watch together. We were advised to buy another device. Tbh we may as use a subscription service or have a vpn instead.
Does not work (on this device - Android/Galaxy Tab 2). Reinstalled multiple times but to no avail. Each time, the App attempts to load and then returns to the home screen after a few seconds. Shame really.
App works fine on my phone. On my tablet I get a failed to load video message when I try to watch certain channels. Terrestrial channels are mostly ok, but I can't watch sport channels on my tablet but can on my phone.
as with everything gateway related, 10 times more complicated than it has to be. opening the app just sends you into the login page of your gateway account, and no shortcut to the BFBS player that's more difficult to find than wally. how about a login that just opens the player?
Good app but annoying that the casting button doesn't work and the BFBS logo is no longer integrated when you press play, so you have to press play..wait..and press play again. Also not all channels feature on replay.
Rubbish, rarely works. Constantly greeted with a black loading screen after clicking on a tv channel. On the rare time it works it usually freezes mid way through.
Constantly buffers and jitters during playback. Lip sync is also out. Makes programs very hard to watch. Why can't you fix it??
The app is great to use overseas but my question is why can't BFBS negotiate to have more right for UK service personnel users? Would be a great idea if you add at least one sports channel.
I am trying to start an account but being told I have one already must try password reset, the password reset says I don't have an account. Which one is correct there's no where to send enquiries
Had been a decent service but since the update (March '20) streaming quality has gone through the floor to a point it's no longer watchable.
Always lagging, quite often I cant even watch some of the channels. Just installed the new updated app and only get 4 basic channels. 👎
Annoyingly rubbish. Refuses to work consistently despite having a 10mb download and 15mb upload mobile connection or even on my laptop connected to WiFi with 36mb download and 45mb upload. Back to VIPleague or circfree for the football.
Does not align to CJO policy, therefore useless app. Just use Netflix, BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, My 5. I certainly don't support renewing of the BFBS contract, welfare money could be much better spent.
Since the latest update sports channel picture is always blurry, tried on numerous devices and internet connections with the same results
Base in The Netherlands, since the update the app very rarely works when trying to watch the football such a shame it was a very good app for keep up with the football.
Trying to download app but get message saying error, have done all the troubleshooting that I have been advised but still no luck
Crashes when opening for the first 20 attempts but once it does load its mostly ok.
Congratulations, you updated the logo and made the app worse. Stream is pixelated and unwatchable.
Great app, provides easy access to plenty of channels when overseas. The feature to stream through Apple Airplay and Google Cast is especially useful. Thank you for finally including cast!