Introducing Telly, an unofficial, open-source Apple TV app that brings five UK streaming catalogues into one interface. It builds on Beeb, my earlier BBC-focused project.

The idea is to spend less time switching apps and more time finding something to watch.

Features:

• Five catalogues, one search: BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and U, with shared Browse categories and a mixed-network Featured banner.
• Live TV in familiar order: BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1, Channel 4, Channel 5 and the other supported channels, with ITV and Channel 5 themed channels in their own sections.
• Apple TV Top Shelf: direct-launch live channel cards above the app on the home screen, plus BBC regional feed choices.
• Saved programmes and Continue Watching: bookmark shows, resume where you stopped or start over. Progress stays on your Apple TV.
• Better episode browsing: programme pages open on the latest season, and soaps show their newest episodes first.
• Next-episode autoplay: a 15-second countdown at the end, with Cancel and Play now. Back cancels it too.
• Native playback: Apple's controls, supported subtitles, speed options and programme Info. BBC intro/recap skipping and Red Button streams are included where available.
• BBC UHD: compatible content can play in 4K HLG HDR with optional on-device setup. ITV/U and supported Channel 5 streams have played in FHD during testing.
• Phone-based account linking: QR/code flows where ITV, Channel 5 or U require your own account.

A few limits up front: Channel 4 currently plays in SD through the integrated route, some Channel 5 catch-up assets are also SD, and U is catch-up only. Quality, subtitles and availability depend on the programme/provider.

Telly runs on tvOS 17+. It's GPL open source, with source and a prebuilt unsigned IPA intended for people to sign/install themselves. It isn't on the App Store or TestFlight. After installation, ordinary playback doesn't need a separate server or computer running beside it.

Source and installation instructions: https://github.com/usefulappmaker/Telly-public

Download the public preview (unsigned IPA and source): https://github.com/usefulappmaker/Telly-public/releases/tag/v0.8.0

I'd particularly welcome feedback on the combined Browse categories, channel order and next-episode countdown. If anyone has any suggestions for getting better streams, also get in touch! This is a public preview, and the latest navigation/autoplay changes need testing on more Apple TVs.

Telly is an independent project, not affiliated with or endorsed by the broadcasters. Their normal account and regional availability requirements still apply.

I’ve released Beeb for Android TV 0.1.5, an independent BBC player for Android TV and Google TV.

This update makes the interface feel more at home on Android TV, improves playback reliability and adds automatic UHD setup without needing a computer.
What’s changed since the last GitHub release:
Cleaner navigation, programme cards and episode details.

- A new Search tab using the native TV keyboard, with voice input where supported.
- A dedicated 4K UHD category in Browse.
Updated BBC playback-link handling to fix problems opening some programmes.
- Automatic UHD configuration: open Settings → Enable BBC UHD.
- Standard Android playback controls, with programme metadata and a quality badge.
- Various UI fixes.

Beeb also supports live BBC channels, saved programmes, Continue Watching, subtitles, temporary subtitles after rewinding 10 seconds, and Skip Intro/Recap when the programme provides the required metadata.

Download the APK and read the full changes:
https://github.com/usefulappmaker/beeb-android/releases/tag/v0.1.5

Source code and installation instructions:
https://github.com/usefulappmaker/beeb-android
If you already have Beeb installed, install the update over your existing version to keep your saved programmes and setup.

It’s a free, open-source project, unaffiliated with the BBC. You’ll need to sideload the APK; Android 8.0 or later is required.

Feedback from other Android TV and Google TV devices would be especially useful—particularly on remote navigation, playback and subtitles.

I've put together another update to Beeb, my independent, open-source BBC player for Apple TV.

New homescreen layouts: choose Classic or Modern in Settings. Modern gives you a floating Topbar or a Sidebar. Classic keeps the earlier compact topbar and framed banner.

Immersive modern homescreens: large programme artwork and a glowing Beeb icon.

Your preference is remembered: Settings → Homescreen Layout. The Topbar/Sidebar choice appears under Modern and is retained when you switch to Classic and back.

Press the RED button: it's an option in every live player's controls. Open Red Button or Red Button UHD when BBC is broadcasting those feeds.

Live TV subtitles: BBC's live captions now work through Apple's native subtitle rendering and controls when available.

Continuous browsing: scroll through categories, A–Z and the indexed 4K UHD listing without Previous/Next buttons. Programme batches load as needed rather than loading everything at launch.

A cleaner Browse screen: wider, readable category cards with icons.

More reliable episode loading: updated BBC playback discovery and version selection, fixing the incorrect-format errors encountered by some users.

Download the unsigned IPA and source code on GitHub: https://github.com/usefulappmaker/Beeb-public/releases/tag/v0.10.8

I’ve been working on Beeb, my independent, open-source BBC player for Apple TV. 0.10.7 is now available on GitHub, updating the original public release, 0.8.2.

What’s changed:

4K UHD category — browse UHD-listed shows and films. It caches BBC’s UHD webpage and refreshes daily, rather than scanning thousands of programmes. Open a mixed-quality series and you’ll still see every episode, with the 4K ones tagged. The BBC list may not cover everything available in UHD.

Search tab — search programme titles and descriptions across the BBC catalogue using Apple’s keyboard, with remote dictation or the iPhone keyboard where supported.

Programme Info while watching — an Info button opens the episode artwork, title, full description, original broadcast date, running time and quality.

Playback speed — Apple’s native speed selector, from 0.5× to 2× for catch-up programmes.

Live channels on Top Shelf — put Beeb in your Apple TV’s top row, press Up and select a landscape channel card to start watching directly.

Regional BBC channels — choose from 16 BBC One regions and three BBC Two feeds in Settings. Your choice applies to Live and Top Shelf playback.

Cleaner browsing — a bigger homepage banner you can move through with left/right, larger programme cards, portrait posters for Stream Every Episode and less unnecessary text.

Clearer quality badges — outlined 4K, FHD, HD and SD tags beside the episode metadata, with spacing and live-label fixes. “4K” refers to resolution; supported HLG HDR playback is still there.

Sideloading fixes — the unsigned IPA includes the Top Shelf extension.

Beeb 0.10.7 downloads⁠
Download the unsigned Apple TV IPA⁠
Download the matching source ZIP⁠
Signing and installation instructions⁠

It’s for tvOS 17+. The IPA is unsigned, so you’ll need to sign and sideload it yourself, or build from source in Xcode. UHD needs Apple TV 4K, a compatible display and your own TwinVine setup; HD and live TV don’t need TwinVine.

Still an unofficial project, with no BBC affiliation. Feedback and bug reports are welcome!

I’ve been working on Beeb, an independent BBC player that started on Apple TV. There’s now an Android TV / Google TV version, and I’m sharing the source and APK on GitHub.

The main reason I wanted this was to get a better playback experience on my own TV. 4K HDR HLG playback is working on my Chromecast with Google TV, although I’d love to hear how it behaves on other devices.

What’s included:

- BBC programme browsing, categories, A–Z and live channels.
- Individual episode thumbnails and a homepage banner you browse with the remote’s left/right buttons.
- Saved programmes, local Continue Watching, resume and Up next.
- Native Media3 playback and subtitle controls.
- Skip intro/recap when BBC supplies the markers.
- Optional 4K HLG playback on compatible hardware.

A heads-up about 4K: it needs your own working TwinVine identity and a compatible HLG device/display. HD playback doesn’t need that setup. No credentials are included in the download.

It’s an early release, currently 0.1.1, so expect some rough edges. Temporary subtitles after rewinding are implemented but still need more Android testing. Watch history is stored locally; there’s no BBC account sync or offline downloading.

You can sideload the APK without Android Studio. Installation and optional UHD setup instructions are in the README.

Source and instructions:
https://github.com/usefulappmaker/beeb-android

APK download:
https://github.com/usefulappmaker/beeb-android/releases/tag/v0.1.1

It’s an independent project, not an official BBC app. If you try it, please let me know your device model and what works—or breaks. Feedback on remote navigation and playback would be especially useful.

Seriously, what’s the point? I want to watch the entire show, not dive in midway.

Following my previous post, I’ve now released Beeb on GitHub for anyone who wants to try it.

It includes 4K HLG HDR playback, native Apple subtitles (including subtitles after skipping back), intro/recap skipping, Continue Watching, saved programmes and live BBC TV.

Download Beeb 0.8.2
Source code and installation instructions

The release includes source code and a prebuilt unsigned IPA. You’ll need to sign and sideload it yourself; the README walks through installation on Apple TV and setting up your own TwinVine configuration for UHD. HD and live TV don’t require TwinVine.

It’s unofficial and isn’t affiliated with the BBC. Thanks for the interest in the original post—let me know how you get on!

Hi everyone,

I have a frustrating issue getting BBC iPlayer to work with a Roku Streaming Stick 4K. I open iPlayer sign in, I can view the programmes all OK but when I attempt to stream anything I get 'Error 02050 - Something went wrong..' (Also trailers to do not work when signed in or out)

It was working fine until a few weeks ago, then out of the blue this happened. I have other Roku sticks in the house that work fine, it is just this one with the issue. Also all other internet content works fine on the stick, it's just BBC iPlayer. :/

This is what I have tried:

• Uninstall / Reinstall BBC iPlayer
• Factory reset / update stick etc..
• Try the stick on another TV
• Interestingly when I sign out I still can't view trailers (they give a generic error)
• Restart router / wifi (my firewall rules are all OK for this)

So no matter what I do this stick will not stream any video content at all. I've run out of ideas.. can anyone help?

We have all Apple TV subtitles turned off. If we turn subtitles on from within the iPlayer app, we get double subtitles; the iPlayer multicolor subtitles, and smaller subtitles behind them.

Our iPlayer app is up to date. TVOS is the latest. We’ve forced quit the app and rebooted the Apple TV. Nothing seems to work.

Anyone else experiencing this? Any fix?

The fools behind the BBC iPlayer site have "improved" it so you can no longer sort it by most recently added on the Films and Dramas & Soaps categories. The redesign copies the unfit for purpose Channel 4 catch up site's display model.

I don't want to be told what they think I should watch.

I want to see what they have added to the offering and decide for myself if I want to watch it.

Weirdly sort by Featured / A–Z / Most recent is still there on the documentaries and history category pages — at least, for the moment.

I suppose that anything as rational and convenient as a sort-by-date feature was never going to survive the increasingly made-for-brainless internet. I don't know if I'm being unreasonable here but I am certainly very pissed off about it.

Hi, this is a strange feeling but blue lights on iPlayer on my LG TV looks really 'green' through the native player and on a fire TV. It's only Blue Lights that seems to have this issue, does anyone else have this issue? Thank you

30 September 2026, the date the iPlayer app was supposed to stop working on unsupported devices, has come and gone. My 0.4.7 sideloaded app is still working fine on my US Google TV. How about yours? Please post your device as well.

So for years you can view all films on iplayer, A-Z or by most recently added

Because any 4 year old would realise that is a minimum requirement of the app

And then some team of utter masterminds decided to remove this functionality

Why?

And can the people responsible be sacked, hung, drawn and quaretered?

Hey! I’m currently trying to find an episode of Doctors (S23 E13) and have been unsuccessful. Do you think the BBC will ever bring it back to iplayer or is this a lost cause?

Also if anyone has anyone I can contact about getting this episode please let me know!

I noticed that some watchlist programmes weren't providing new episode notifications. Ones that I had added over the past year. I tried different browsers and devices with no success. I then tried a new account only to find that notifications don't work at all, even on the older stuff that still works on the old account.

Exactly the same browser, different results with two separate accounts. I'm now wondering if there is some sort of issue with the notification system in general? Or is there something I can do to fix this?

What has happened to the most recent film page?????

Where's episodes 4, 5, and 6 of Ludwig?! Im coming up to episode 2 of it now, and its phenomenal, I'm loving it (sad to see Gerran H go but hey ho), but there's only three episodes up on iPlayer, all released the same day, the 20th of Aug, so its not like its weekly.

I know there's another three as I saw an article about the US britbox release, but I just don't know when these other three episodes will appear.