BBC iPlayer 4k support in time for the World cup?

[ajwool]

So, will we finally get Bbc iPlayer support in time for the World Cup? Announcement coming imminently:

https://www.whathifi.com/news/bbc-4k-hdr-world-cup-confirmation-week-away

[stormyuk]

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@ScrattyTV wrote:

Is there still a test stream loop on iplayer? I can't seem to find it anywhere? 

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Yes but only if you have a compatible player (Roku+, V6,  PS4 Pro etc etc). The 2016 or 2017 Sony Android TVs don't support it with their native app.

[ScrattyTV]

I have the Roku + and I have been watching the football on it, I just don't know where to find the test stream... 

[stormyuk]

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@ScrattyTV wrote:

I have the Roku + and I have been watching the football on it, I just don't know where to find the test stream... 

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Ahh ok. Go into the settings menu, if you use the beta you get the football loop, if you use the non-beta you get the Planet Earth II loop. You can toggle between them.

[ScrattyTV]

Thanks, I couldn't see for looking! 

[JannEejit]

BBC have announced Wimbeldon tennis will also broadcast in 4K HDR via i-player. With some coverage going to Sky Q users too. The article alludes to feedback received regarding World Cup, without mentioning any specific problems like those discussed here.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-44550307

[BigUglyGac]

why would the bbc mention sony sets that are unable to stream due to weak processors ? as far as the bbc know everything works fine on their end. 

[rod_hull]

So, if anyone wants some technical info about how these streams are actually being made available to the Internet by the BBC (I suspect the iPlayer implementations on those supported TVs are maybe doing something different though) here goes:

There are 5 different UHD streams for the World Cup (including the "loop" demo):

http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio_video/webcast/dash/uk/full/llnw/uhd_stream_01.m...

http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio_video/webcast/dash/uk/full/llnw/uhd_stream_02.m...

http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio_video/webcast/dash/uk/full/llnw/uhd_stream_03.m...

http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio_video/webcast/dash/uk/full/llnw/uhd_stream_04.m...

http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio_video/webcast/dash/uk/full/llnw/uhd_stream_05.m...

The live ones when a match is broadcast are I believe one (or more) of the first 4, whilst the 5th is always on and available and consists of the pre-recorded loop acting as a demo.

You can use something like VLC (or another player that supports these DASH MPD streams) from a PC or even Android (your mileage may vary getting them to play correctly due to the processing power required) to verify that the streams are working.

Each of these MPD files contain a number of different qualities of actual video - depending on the software you use to view them, you may be able to to choose which quality you want to view.

My Sony XD93 which is not supported by the trial officially (with the Android TV version of VLC) can connect to the 5th "demo" stream but it simply cannot process it so I'm left with audio only, and a garbled video output. Again, the TV only supports HLG via HDMI.

These streams are also apparently working directly for people using Kodi (installed on a PC, or via a supported dedicated hardware device that can also detect/switch to HLG which I think are few and far between)...

[BigUglyGac]

nice find, least i can now watch it on my tv using it as a glorified pc monitor. 

[Osprey-One]

Hi,

agreed, pretty poor! Isthere any info on when this will be available - or if!? I see Wimbledon will be similiar and it seems very poor indeed that this state of the art TV doesnt cope with this. 

[Osprey-One]

Hi,

agreed, pretty poor! Isthere any info on when this will be available - or if!? I see Wimbledon will be similiar and it seems very poor indeed that this state of the art TV doesnt cope with this.