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

[MrJoBangles]

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.

[HannahEd01]

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.

[J____DT]

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.

[royabrown2]

@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).

[Wizzy.4709]

Get a fire stick it is on there and works

[Bat_Rick]

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

[MekRek]

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 

[SkyNet404]

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. 
 

[Jbennett360]

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?

[SkyNet404]

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.