BBC launching new iPlayer on wide range of smart TVs

The BBC has begun rolling out the new version of its BBC iPlayer catch-up TV platform to a wider group of smart TV platforms.

Executive product manager Marcus Parnwell said in a blog posting that the new version of iPlayer is now being rolled out to smart TV platforms including 2014 Bush, Digihom, Finlux, Hitachi, JVC, LG, Linstar, Luxor, Panasonic, Philips, Polariod, Sharp TVs, 2012 Cello TVs, 2010, 2011  and 2014 Samsung TVs, 2011 and 2014 Sony TVs, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Toshiba TVs and 2012 Vestel models.

The latest version of iPlayer is also being deployed on a wider range of Blu-ray players from LG, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba, as well as set-top boxes from Bush, Hitachi, LG, Tesco-Technika and Western Digital.

Parnwell said the migration means that the BBC has taken the decision to retire the ‘Bigscreen’ version of iPlayer that was rolled out five years ago but which is currently only used by about 0.1% of iPlayer users.

He said that the BBC is continuing to work with YouView, Virgin Media and BT to bring the new version of iPlayer to these plaforms, while it will be launched on the Microsoft Xbox One platform by the end of this year.