BBC iPlayer expands catch-up window to 30 days – but not on Virgin Media TiVo, YouView and BT Vision

The BBC has expanded the catch-up window of iPlayer from seven to 30 days on a number of platforms including iOS, Android and Sky. 

Current and upcoming titles including Peaky Blinders and the second season of The Fall as well as BBC Radio regulars like Just A Minute will now be available to stream for longer. 

Despite this feature originally being slated for a summer release, not every TV platform is able to benefit from the increased catch-up window, which starts rolling out today. 

Because the iPlayer was originally only built to host seven days worth of content, platforms which have not yet updated to the latest version of iPlayer won’t get 30 days of catch-up straight away. 

Dan Taylor-Watt, head of BBC iPlayer, BBC Future Media said: “All computers, tablets and mobile devices accessing BBC iPlayer will get 30 Day availability, as will all connected TV devices which have been updated with the new version of BBC iPlayer, including Sky.

“Virgin Media TiVo, YouView and BT Vision boxes will all receive 30 Day availability when they are upgraded to the new version of BBC iPlayer, which we are working with those partners to achieve.” 

Taylor-Watt also said some content won’t be available for the full 30 days, including Crimewatch, Match of the Day and the news, due to legal or contractual reasons. 

However, some current affairs programmes including Panorama, Question Time, HARDtalk, Click and Prime Minister’s Questions are available for a full year and many of the programmes in the BBC Four Collections are available for longer than the standard 30 days. 

 

Programme availability will be displayed next to shows on the new iPlayer, giving you a clear idea of how long you’ve got left to watch each show.

The new catch-up window doesn’t currently apply to downloaded programmes, only on-demand, streamed content. 

While you’ll still only have a week to watch shows you’ve stored on your Samsung Galaxy S5 the BBC says it’s working on bringing that up to 30 days as well. By the time you’re ready to download shows on your Galaxy S6, you should have a month to watch them.