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bbc.co.uk
If you are a citizen of the United Kingdom, there are many options open to you when it comes to free TV streaming and free movie streaming sites. Thanks to the unique public broadcasting structure in the UK, the level of quality available on free TV streaming sites is unparalleled. Not only are there several incredible free streaming sites and apps filled with spectacular original TV series and movies (thanks to the BBC's many imprints), but there are also some great free streaming services out there that provide access to some excellent licensed content as well.
Although it would not be 100% accurate to refer to many of these free TV streaming sites as "free," would it? Not in the strictest sense, anyway. I mean, sure, there are some great streaming services that are free in that they do not cost anything to use; in other words, you do not have to pay a subscription fee to a site like BBC iPlayer. However, to say that BBC iPlayer is a free streaming site would be to ignore the television license required to view it.
Since September of 2016, the UK government has required its citizens to acquire a television license in order to watch BBC iPlayer content. Whether you are streaming live television or simply watching reruns on-demand, a television license is required.
That being said, this is done entirely on an honor system. As of the time of this writing, sites such as BBC iPlayer do not require users to verify their licensure status. Nor is there a credentials checking system in place of any sort. So, be sure to get your television license before streaming anything - live or on-demand - via the BBC iPlayer streaming platform. It's only about 100 quid per year, after all ? it still winds up being slightly cheaper than Netflix (and grants you access to significantly more content altogether).
BBC iPlayer is one of the most popular streaming services on the web. There is a good reason for this, as it offers a great variety of TV shows, movies, documentaries, specials, and more. Personally, I love BBC iPlayer because it opens up the world of British media in a convenient and neatly organized manner. But BBC iPlayer isn't just for British TV and movies - there are plenty of classic and current American titles as well.
BBC iPlayer has been around for nearly two decades, but it gained popularity in recent years because it switched to using HTML5. For history buffs, this is a journey worth taking!
History
BBC iPlayer began by utilizing their Flash-oriented streaming system, BBC Redux. It started out as a proof of concept and when it left its beta testing, though, this Redux technology became integrated into BBC iPlayer and officially launched on Christmas day, 2007. The platform wasted no time in attempting to improve upon itself either, launching a new look for the iPlayer not even one full year later, in June of 2008.
The original slogan for the streaming site was "Catch up on the last 7 days of BBC TV & Radio." This slogan reflected the type of content that was available on BBC iPlayer, as well as the initial intention behind the streaming site. Later, the site changed its slogan to "making the unmissable, unmissable." In May of 2010, the site underwent what is referred to as a "social makeover," adding in recommendations and other features.
On February 11th, 2011, BBC iPlayer experienced a major change. This change expanded the programming offered by BBC iPlayer to include content from all of the ITV channels, as well as more channels from other networks. Additionally, BBC iPlayer added a ?channels? function onto the main page and search features to make it easier to find what you are looking for.
BBC iPlayer was relaunched on April 1, 2014 with a new interface that was more intuitive. Along with this change, users could now stream content for 30 days after it aired instead of only 7 days. However, legal limitations prevent most news broadcasts from being streamed for longer than 24 hours. This is basically the way BBC iPlayer has operated ever since the main difference being that it no longer offers radio broadcasts.
BBC iPlayer is one of the most popular streaming sites in the UK. Its user-friendly interface, great selection of TV series and movies, and cross-platform availability make it a must-have for anyone with a television license. Still unconvinced that BBC iPlayer is the best free TV streaming site for you? Well, let's have a look at what BBC iPlayer has to offer and see if I can change your mind.
Design
First of all, I really like the design of BBC iPlayer. It looks just as good as some of the best-paid premium streaming sites out there, and it works perfectly. Honestly, BBC iPlayer offers a more intuitive, user-friendly, and visually stunning site design than some of the most popular and critically acclaimed premium streaming sites on the web today.
The website is well-organized with many different sections. Above the menu bar on the page, you can browse by genre or category, and there is a search bar as well. You can also navigate to different sections of the website, such as Home, News, Sport, Reel, Work-Life, Travel, Future Culture, and More.
Below that, the design should look fairly familiar. Users can browse by genre and category - each section has its own side-scrolling library of suggested titles. The media player, too, is easy and logical to use. When watching a series, for instance, the rest of the seasons and episodes available can be quickly visited without having to do any clicking back and forth. The entire user experience is smooth and intuitive.
Content and Features
As I brushed upon earlier, BBC iPlayer offers hundreds of TV series, movies, specials, and documentaries. If you catch it within 30 days of airing (and it aired on one of BBC iPlayer?s participating channels), you can stream it here. The channels that you can browse on BBC iPlayer include Channel One, Channel Two, Channel Three, Channel Four, Radio 1, CBBC, CBeebies, Scotland, News, Parliament, Alba, and S4C.
Due to the 30-day expiration date on BBC iPlayer, it can be difficult to determine what content is currently available. However, generally speaking any programming aired on British television can be streamed on BBC iPlayer (provided that you catch it within its window of availability).
Mobile and Desktop Experience
BBC iPlayer is a popular free TV streaming service with excellent mobile apps for both Android and iOS devices, as well as downloadable apps for a variety of platforms including Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chrome Cast, Roku, Sky TV, Virgin Media, Sky Go, Now TV, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Not only is this free British TV streaming site available on many devices, but it offers an incredible user experience on each.
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