Is there any way to tell in advance whether a one-off programme will be available on iPlayer after it's first shown?
- posted
11 years ago
Is there any way to tell in advance whether a one-off programme will be available on iPlayer after it's first shown?
Not with certainty. If the Beeb plans on repeating a programme they won't put it on iPlayer until after the second showing.
OK, thanks.
Sod the Beeb. Get whatever you want from a torrent site and watch it where and when you damned well please
I don't that that's correct
(but can't find any current examples to check)
tim
It's my experience. But sometimes they don't come up at all. And they never tell you why (it _might_ be copyright issues, or... or... )
And sometimes they say "This will be available for another three days" then 24 hours later "This programme is no longer available".
The PVR is a real blessing!
Andy
How far in advance?
When you have selected a channel, you can read about a week ahead of the current date by typing a target date into the address bar. I've just jumped to Christmas Eve where everything is either marked "Not available" or "Coming soon" which I take as a pretty clear indication of what will become downloadable.
Nick
But they do not always then make it available! I have several times seen that but then the program has not actually become available.
And it sometimes depends on how you look for it.For example, there are differences between what is available via iPlayer via Virgin, and via iPlayer via PC, and via iPlayer via television. IYSWIM.
Add in the issues about whether you can download the HD, SD or signed versions... (Yes - sometimes only one of those is available despite the program having been broadcast in all three versions.)
Latest episode of Only Connect shown Monday 2030 is now on iPlayer. The repeat is at 0030 tomorrow.
Lots of other examples such as The Killing shown at 2100 Saturday, repeated 2300 Monday and 2200 Saturday repeated 2300 Tuesday. Although there is no download option for any of these episodes and there is a 7 day streaming limit.
I tend to use get_iplayer for downloading stuff from the iPlayer. It's available for Windows, Linux and Mac and is pretty versatile about selecting different quality versions, subtitles etc. If you are not currently using it I'd recommend giving it a go or at the very least, reading through the command list to see what it is capable of. Mind you, even get_iplayer can't download a programme that is witheld or has expired - but it sometimes finds versions that were not made obvious from the iPlayer. It's good for radio too. Just google get_iplayer to find a download.
Nick
And mine, sometimes.
I made a complaint ages ago about the way the website pages enable the "Download options" link before (often) they actually make any downloads available (I think it comes alive in fact when they make the streamable progamme available). Although I have had responses to complaints, nearly none of them have shown any sign of intelligence and/or knowledge of how GUIs should work. I have no faith that any complaint get passed to the programmers.
I frequently report "download unavailable" when the "Download options" link is active but no downlaods are possible. I'm probably wasting my time.
It's not correct with no end of programmes that are repeated later in the week. They are available on iPlayer after the first airing.
MBQ
+1 for get_iplayer. It's also useful to get the 'live' version of a radio programme when they have buggered it up for copyright reasons in the podcast version.
-1 for lack of usable documentation.
Yes, that's what I use already. (I'm trying to figure out if a one-programme will become available that way.)
Ingenious, thanks! If that's reliable, I'll be able to get all 3 parts of Slade Night afterwards. (Go ahead & laugh, I don't mind.)
Ok found one
"Inside Claridge's" on last night, repeated in the "midnight" slot tonight.
Available *now* on iPlayer.
No it's a **** up, of which I have complained (to the Beeb) and discussed on umtm more than once.
Yep
I really don't know how anyone who doesn't want to miss a (particular) program [1] can live without one. "Catch up" is IMHO not a reliable alternative.
tim
[1] Sis just watches TV for "something to do". She has an hour spare and watches whatever is available. No attempt at all to make sure that she watches a "series" or even all parts of a "serial".
I gave up on downloads after I downloaded a program to watch later but by the time that I got around to watching it iPlayer said "I need to do an update before you can continue".
After that had completed, attempting to play the download resulted in "file is in the wrong format for this version on iPlayer".
Of course, by that time the program was no longer available for live streaming!
It's useless, useless and even more useless!
tim
I think you won't have any of those problems with the get_iplayer software mentioned elsewhere in this thread.
Mind, my Hummy decided to stop recording "the sky at night" just in time to miss Sir Patrick's last episode.
I have it on my PC though...
ANdy
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