As spotted on the Digital Spy forums, and announced on the iPlayer website, the BBC has confirmed it won't be supporting the old MHEG-based version of its catch-up and on-demand service beyond September 2016. The move will affect some models only two years old.
Meanwhile, customer service staff at ITV, which is the only other provider to offer a catch-up TV service on first generation Freesat boxes, have indicated there isn't yet any information on any changes to the current line up of devices supported by the ITV Hub, including first generation Freesat devices
Some of the affected Freesat receivers are still being sold at various retailers such as John Lewis and Amazon, with iPlayer compatibility prominently displayed in the advertising. We're currently awaiting responses from manufacturers of the affected devices.
Since 2012, Freesat has been offering a new service called Freetime, which offers a wider range of on-demand players from major broadcasters, including the latest version of iPlayer. Freetime users are unaffected by this change.
The full list of devices, provided by the BBC:
Affected devices are mostly first generation Freesat boxes, with some older Freeview devices in the list as well:
Company
|
Product
|
Model/ Year
|
Bush
|
FSAT+500
|
2014
|
Bush
|
FSATHD
|
2014
|
Bush
|
FSAT+500
|
2014
|
Bush
|
BFSAT01HD
|
2009
|
Bush
|
7105 (320GB)
|
2011
|
Bush
|
7105 (500GB) model:
BU11FSRHD50
|
2011
|
Echostar
|
HDS-600RS
|
2011
|
Ferguson
|
F101HDSAT
|
2010
|
Goodmans
|
7105 (500GB) model:
GD11FSRHD50
|
2011
|
Grundig/
Goodmans
|
GFSDTR500HD (500 GB)
|
2009
|
Grundig/
Goodmans
|
Grundig GUFSAT01HD/
GFSAT200HD
|
2010
|
Grundig/
Goodmans
|
GFSDTR320HD (320GB)
|
2009
|
Humax
|
Foxsat HD
|
2008
|
Humax
|
Foxsat HDR
(320GB/500GB/1TB)
|
2008
|
Logik
|
LHDFSAT11
|
2011
|
Logik
|
LHDFSAT11
|
2011
|
Manhattan
|
Plaza HD-S
|
2011
|
Manhattan
|
Plaza HD-S2
|
2013
|
Manhattan
|
Plaza HDR-S
|
2012
|
Panasonic
|
PAL09
|
2009
|
Panasonic
|
PAL10 - TX-L37G20B
|
2010
|
Panasonic
|
DMR-BS850/DMR-BS750/DMR-XS350
|
2010
|
Panasonic
|
PAL08
|
2008
|
Panasonic
|
DMT-XS350
|
2009
|
Sagem
|
DSI86HD
|
2009
|
Sagem
|
DTR94250S/DTR94320S/DTR94500S
|
2009
|
Samsung
|
SMT-S7800 (500 GB)
|
2011
|
Sony
|
KDL-ssV5800*
|
2009
|
Sony
|
KDL-ssW5810*
|
2009
|
Sony
|
KDL-ssLX90x*
|
2010
|
Sony
|
KDL-ssNX81x*
|
2010
|
Sony
|
KDL-ssNX80x*
|
2010
|
Sony
|
KDL-ssNX71x*
|
2010
|
Sony
|
KDL-ssNX70x*
|
2010
|
Sony
|
KDL-ssHX90x*
|
2010
|
Sony
|
KDL-ssHX80x*
|
2010
|
Sony
|
KDL-ssHX70x*
|
2010
|
Sony
|
KDL-ssEX70x*
|
2010
|
Sony
|
KDL-ssEX71x*
|
2010
|
Sony
|
KDL-ssEX603*
|
2010
|
Sony
|
KDL-ssEX605*
|
2010
|
Sony
|
KDL-ssEX50x*
|
2010
|
Sony
|
KDL-ssEX403*
|
2010
|
Sony
|
KDL-ssNX503*
|
2010
|
Technisat
|
HDFS
|
2009
|
The BBC says that the decision to cease support is because it's not been possible to migrate older devics to a supportable version of iPlayer. It says that it's not "cost efficient to maintain the implementation of delivering iPlayer to these devices, due to the backend systems and technologies (often 3rd party) on which they depend."
Over the past couple of years, the BBC has been moving devices to a newer platform for the iPlayer, which has added functionality, such as HD TV, live streaming and live programme restart, which isn't possible with the older versions on Freesat. A similar MHEG based iPlayer service - called the bigscreen version of iPlayer was phased out in 2014,
This will never stop happening. Smart TVs and similar devices will become dumb TVs etc. within a few years of buying them. It's better to buy a separate streaming box as the article says.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Owen Smith's comment. The BBC iPlayer situation is now manifesting itself in other Smart TV apps. A very recent announcement being about support for Skype on Smart TVs being withdrawn in the summer by Microsoft which will result in the loss of that App also. I believe Samsung will withdraw it on 02 June 2016.
ReplyDeleteMy next TV will not be a Smart TV. I would rather have a decent TV that lasts 10 years and add devices as required. Oh for a device that would offer everything in one device
Samsung seem to be removing services every month, though most of them I've never used.
ReplyDeleteUnderstandable move though by the BBC who've some what standardised the service across all platforms (the front end of it at least).
My 2010 Panasonic P42V20B Smart TV (not listed above) is now displaying a message saying that the version of iPlayer on that TV will cease to work. Clearly the list above is incomplete.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid we've only got the current BBC list of affected devices to go on, as shown above, but thanks for confirming the situation on your TV model.
Delete