BBC iPlayer Goes Live on New Apple TV in the UK - MacRumors
Skip to Content

BBC iPlayer Goes Live on New Apple TV in the UK

The BBC today launched its BBC iPlayer app for the new Apple TV in the United Kingdom, bringing the popular streaming service from the UK's public broadcaster to Apple's set-top box for the first time. iPlayer had been a notable omission on earlier boxes, but with the new Apple TV supporting a full App Store for third-party apps, there has been increasing demand for the BBC to bring its service to the platform.

bbc_iplayer_apple_tv


Following Apple's unveiling of the new Apple TV at Apple's "Hey Siri" media event, the BBC indicated it had "no plans" at that time to bring iPlayer to the Apple TV, but by the time the new box launched in late October, the broadcaster had changed course and announced iPlayer would be made available "in the coming months."

bbc_iplayer_apple_tv_interface
(Thanks, Brian!)

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

Popular Stories

apple tv 4k new orange

tvOS 26.4 Adds These New Features to Your Apple TV

Wednesday March 25, 2026 3:33 pm PDT by
Apple this week released tvOS 26.4, and the software update includes a handful of new features and changes for the Apple TV. tvOS 26.4 is compatible with all Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD models released since 2015. To update your Apple TV, open the Settings app on the device, navigate to System → Software Updates, and select Update Software. Below, we have recapped what is new in tvOS...
General visionOS watchOS and tvOS Betas Feature Redux

Apple Releases First watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5 and visionOS 26.5 Betas

Monday March 30, 2026 10:38 am PDT by
Apple today provided developers with the first betas of upcoming watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5, and visionOS 26.5 betas for testing purposes. The software comes a week after Apple launched the 26.4 versions of each platform. The software updates are available through the Settings app on each device, and because these are developer betas, a free developer account is required. There's no word on...
HomePod 2 White and Midnight Feature Blue Orange

New HomePod Expected Alongside Updated HomePod Mini and Apple TV

Thursday March 26, 2026 9:30 am PDT by
On a live Q&A call today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple is planning to release a new full-sized HomePod alongside new HomePod mini and Apple TV models. Gurman reiterated that updates to all three products are on hold until Apple releases its more personalized version of Siri later this year. The revamped assistant is expected to debut in iOS 27, which will be available in beta starting...

Top Rated Comments

John.B Avatar
135 months ago
Why should UK license payers supplement those people?
If they sold BBC content outside the UK on monthly subscriptions, "those people" could supplement UK license payers.

Just sayin'...
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
135 months ago
Now if only they got off this region-locking rubbish and offered it outside the UK. As a matter of fact, all content producers should just end their utterly ridiculous need to region control content!
Why should UK license payers supplement those people?
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheIguana Avatar
135 months ago
Now if only they got off this region-locking rubbish and offered it outside the UK. As a matter of fact, all content producers should just end their utterly ridiculous need to region control content!
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
135 months ago
The word you're looking for is "subsidize".
The word you're looking for is 'subsidise'.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
135 months ago
Why should UK license payers supplement those people?
Yeah we legally have to pay for the BBC it should be available on every platform we could possibly want and sold to those outside the UK to reduce our television tax as it were. It makes some of the best programming in the world.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
135 months ago
Hopefully All 4 and Amazon Video aren't far behind..
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)