topic BBC Iplayer (and other UK Terrestrial TV catch-Up apps won't open) in Android TV

BBC Iplayer (and other UK Terrestrial TV catch-Up apps won't open)

MrJoBangles — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 18:02:50 GMT

Sony A1 with latest software/firmware.

After conquering previous travails in even finding these flipping apps I'm now in a position where they don't open.

I noticed this first during Euro2020 a few months ago when I wanted to watch games on IPlayer in UHD but the IPlayer App wouldn't open - I worked around this by rebooting the TV by holding power button down until TV restarted. After this, IPlayer would open ONCE, I'd have to reboot the TV anytime I wanted to open IPlayer.

I subsequently noticed that none of the YouView Apps like ITV Hub, All4 etc would open either.

I thought this issue might resolve itself over time with an auto firmware update or such like but it still happens.

I find it intensely irritating how IPlayer seems "sideloaded" into YouView and is not a standalone app I can fiddle with, y'know, delete and reinstall sort of thing.

Frankly, I'd like to rip YouView out of the telly altogether and replace it with FreeView but, first things first.....

Any ideas how to get IPlayer to open up every time I need it without rebooting the telly?

Thanks.

Re: BBC Iplayer (and other UK Terrestrial TV catch-Up apps won't open)

royabrown2 — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 21:15:36 GMT

@MrJoBangles

Do a full Factory Reset on the TV.

Menu:

https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/articles/00122829

Forced, if the Menu one won’t work:-

https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/articles/00159906

Re: BBC Iplayer (and other UK Terrestrial TV catch-Up apps won't open)

MrJoBangles — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 10:53:26 GMT

Thanks for that. Not sure that's something I want to do just now, the thought of having to set-up the telly again with my many settings, apps and log-ins doesn't really appeal to be honest.

I watch ordinary TV via a Humax PVR which has IPlayer etc on it so I can use that for 99% of my IPlayer needs, I only noticed the issue trying to access IPlayer UHD (which Humax doesn't support). Given, Beeb has little UHD content I'm interested in it doesn't seem worth the faff. Plus, such is the useless Youview deployment on this TV I'd worry the issue would flare up a week/month later and I'd be back to square one. My irritating "soft reset" approach is probably better for my situation.

If I get fed up and change my mind, I at least know how to resolve the problem now.

Cheers fellah!

Re: BBC Iplayer (and other UK Terrestrial TV catch-Up apps won't open)

J____DT — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 11:39:53 GMT

Hi, I'm having the same issues. iPlayer just won't start on my TV.

I'm running YouView - should I use an alternative when I do the factory reset?

Re: BBC Iplayer (and other UK Terrestrial TV catch-Up apps won't open)

royabrown2 — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 14:15:13 GMT

@MrJoBangles

Maybe get a Roku Express or an Amazon Firestick, and get your apps via that, then?

@J____DT

You can exit the YouView side of your TV for the Freeview side, without needing a reset for that. But either side it is still the same iPlayer app, so it shouldn’t matter which side you are on, after a Factory Reset.

And see my extra device suggestion, above.

Re: BBC Iplayer (and other UK Terrestrial TV catch-Up apps won't open)

HannahEd01 — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 10:40:23 GMT

Hey J____DT, what's the model number of your TV?

Re: BBC Iplayer (and other UK Terrestrial TV catch-Up apps won't open)

J____DT — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 10:58:58 GMT

KD43XG8096BU

Re: BBC Iplayer (and other UK Terrestrial TV catch-Up apps won't open)

J____DT — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 11:01:23 GMT

Although the steps mentioned above were helpful they seem to be one-off fixes and doesn't resolve the issue.

How can this be fixed so that the user experience is not as poor as it's been.

We use iPlayer regularly and this is frustrating to say the least.

Re: BBC Iplayer (and other UK Terrestrial TV catch-Up apps won't open)

HannahEd01 — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 16:04:56 GMT

Hey, do you have this software version: https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/televisions-projectors-lcd-tvs-android-/kd-43xg8096/downloads ?

also, did you try unplugging the TV for two minutes and disconnecting any external devices?

Re: BBC Iplayer (and other UK Terrestrial TV catch-Up apps won't open)

MrJoBangles — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 14:36:13 GMT

Right then..... against my better judgement I performed the full factory reset as advised above. What a load of bullshine - of course it didn't solve anything. iPlayer did open okay ONCE thereafter but then it was back to usual, total failure to open (unless I performed a soft reset of TV by holding on/off button down until TV reboots). Basically, all the factory reset achieved was exactly what the reboot does, gets iPlayer to open for one time only. Things is reboot takes a minute or so, factory reset takes 90 chuffing minutes!!

Obviously I'm fuming at all that wasted time faffing about retuning, updating software, redownloading apps, signing back in to things, setting up R/C and setting various user preferences.

So DO NOT waste your time performing a factory reset your TV in a futile bid to cure the iPlayer problem. It wont fix the problem.

Re: BBC Iplayer (and other UK Terrestrial TV catch-Up apps won't open)

HannahEd01 — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 14:07:56 GMT

Hey MrJoBangles, every issue is different from the other, I wouldn't recommend users "Not" to try steps to resolve their issues. Anyway, try contacting Sony then.

Re: BBC Iplayer (and other UK Terrestrial TV catch-Up apps won't open)

J____DT — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 15:06:29 GMT

Hi HannahEd01,

Whats the best way to contact Sony?

I've tried a few options but there's always a queue to get to speak to someone.

Re: BBC Iplayer (and other UK Terrestrial TV catch-Up apps won't open)

royabrown2 — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 20:36:15 GMT

@MrJoBangles

You could try waiting in it…..

Sorry about the Factory Reset suggestion, by the way.

But the paradox is that it did fix the issue - just as the soft reboot does it seems, more easily and quickly - but whatever is wrong with the software happens almost instantly afterwards, and corrupts it again 😢

So it does look like you have a repeatable issue (good) but you will have to contact Sony and wait till they fix it (bad).

Re: BBC Iplayer (and other UK Terrestrial TV catch-Up apps won't open)

Wizzy.4709 — Sat, 30 Oct 2021 14:57:04 GMT

Get a fire stick it is on there and works

Re: BBC Iplayer (and other UK Terrestrial TV catch-Up apps won't open)

Anonymous — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 15:16:39 GMT

You can reach Sony support using this link, they have email and chat option also: https://services.sony.co.uk/supportmvc/en/Contact/Email?cat=televisions-projectors1

Re: BBC Iplayer (and other UK Terrestrial TV catch-Up apps won't open)

MekRek — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 13:21:30 GMT

I’ve just seen this thread as I’ve just been experiencing this issue myself on my sony bravia. All the Uk terrestrial apps stopped working. But Netflix, prime, Disney etc were fine. So I thought, what links them all together?… the pile of sh*t called YouView! I’ve had issues with it on my previous Bravia too. I never use it but thought it must be something to do with that app which is causing the issue. I went into the app settings, went to the youview app (for me the app is called “y Live TV & Catch Up”) and deleted the latest update. It then asked me if I was sure I wanted to revert this app to its factory default settings, I said yes. It fixed the issue, now BBCi, All4, ch5 and itv all work

Re: BBC Iplayer (and other UK Terrestrial TV catch-Up apps won't open)

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 14:03:34 GMT

Yea for some if you go to Settings - Apps - Live TV & Catch up, and remove the updates it work fine.
But it's not working for some as well, I found out that yes when you go to Live TV & Catch up it works from there, so is it a new update? Maybe cause it's the only way to get the apps to start.

Re: BBC Iplayer (and other UK Terrestrial TV catch-Up apps won't open)

Jbennett360 — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 14:41:51 GMT

Just need to make sure the app doesn't auto update in the play store, otherwise you'll be going round in circles. I've turned auto updates off.

Had anyone tried disabling the app? The option is there in the settings after you've uninstalled the updates?

Re: BBC Iplayer (and other UK Terrestrial TV catch-Up apps won't open)

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 14:45:52 GMT

I think in new TVs you disable it from Watching TV, or Channels & Inputs. You can only force stop it from the app settings now.