Error message when streaming BBC iPlayer via iPad

Question

Error message when streaming BBC iPlayer via iPad

I'm using ATV (v7.0.3) to view BBC iPlayer (v 4.5.0.64) content via an iPad Mini Retina 2 (IOS 8.1.3) so everything is up to date.

I can watch programmes directly on the iPad from BBC iPlayer either by streaming or downloading. Both work OK.

When I try to watch streamed content via Apple TV via Airplay, I get a message "An error occurred loading this content. Try again later." Every time. If I mirror, the quality is very pixelated, juddery and keeps stopping, so is really unwatchable.

I can successfully download programmes to the iPad but when I watch via ATV, it just keeps stopping, showing the spinning disk. I have to go back and start it playing again. Sometimes it stops every few minutes, sometimes it will play for longer, but it is very frustrating.

We have watched TV programmes Airplayed from other apps, including Netflix app, with no problems. We watch Netflix and Youtube direct on ATV which works flawlessly.

We do use a VPN service (for BBC iPlayer and for Netflix) but that shouldn't really affect anything.

I can't understand why it plays perfectly on the iPad but not on ATV. Any ideas please? I see that this question has been addressed before but never adequately answered, and not in the last year.

Thanks.

iPad Mini, iOS 8.1.3

Posted on Feb 2, 2015 8:49 AM

Reply

Answer 1

vazandrew

Level 8

40,348 points

Feb 2, 2015 8:53 AM in response to Lesley Fenton1

Lesley Fenton1 wrote:

We do use a VPN service (for BBC iPlayer and for Netflix) but that shouldn't really affect anything.

Of course it will, using anything other than what is supplied by your ISP is going to introduce streaming issues

Reply

Answer 2

Feb 2, 2015 8:59 AM in response to vazandrew

Thanks for responding so quickly.

But why does the UK Netflix app work perfectly then? In effect I'm doing exactly the same thing with it. And why does BBC iPlayer stream perfectly well to the iPad itself, but just gets 'lost' between the iPad and the Apple TV?

Reply

Answer 3

vazandrew

Level 8

40,348 points

Feb 2, 2015 9:31 AM in response to Lesley Fenton1

Netflix is fairly good at adapting to the connection. When using AirPlay content is being broadcast thero ugh the router to your iPad and then back out to deliver to ATV. That already requires a stable network, add a VPN and that is going to cause more congestion.

If youre trying to access other regions then that is not supported anyway

Reply

Answer 4

Feb 2, 2015 9:50 AM in response to vazandrew

Are you saying it's a lost cause then?!

I could understand why there might be a problem with streaming but with a programme that has been successfully downloaded? Is it the instability of the vpn (it's a DNS setup on the ATV) which is causing the already-downloaded programmes to keep stopping? Excuse my ignorance but the problem seems to be between the iPad and the ATV for the issue with playing back downloaded programmes. It doesn't need the VPN on to do that, surely.

Reply

Answer 5

Feb 2, 2015 10:11 AM in response to Lesley Fenton1

VPN isn't supported by the Apple TV.

Reply

Answer 6

vazandrew

Level 8

40,348 points

Feb 2, 2015 10:48 AM in response to Lesley Fenton1

It still needs to stream to ATV. DNS needs to be set to auto on ATV and if anything is setup on iPad it can be turned off as well.

Reply

Answer 7

Feb 3, 2015 8:05 AM in response to vazandrew

Thanks, I think I have it resolved now.

Reply

Answer 8

Mar 23, 2015 8:30 AM in response to Lesley Fenton1

Exactly same issue as you were having, how did you resolve it?

Reply

Answer 9

vazandrew

Level 8

40,348 points

Mar 23, 2015 9:59 AM in response to simbashariff

If you're using a VPN as the OP was then as stated that is not supported. Set DNS to auto on Apple TV and turn off VPN on iPad

Reply

Answer 10

Jun 20, 2015 12:24 PM in response to vazandrew

This solution makes absolutely no sense. If you turn off VPN in Settings on the iPad, then you can't use Tunnelbear (or whatever) and so can't stream the BBC iPlayer from the UK. Therefore there's nothing to send to to ATV in the first place. Catch 22, so to speak. As Winston said, ATV does not support VPN, which effectively means any VPN apps are defunct.

Reply

Answer 11

Jun 24, 2015 4:28 AM in response to terence1957

HI

i I have the same problem and I believe it is coming via bbc. I too am using tunnel bear and although I can watch on the iPad I can't watch with chrome cast or Apple TV. My husband is also now unable to watch with his laptop. I am trialling another vpn service but don't think it will fix anything. Di

Reply

Answer 12

Jun 24, 2015 7:35 AM in response to Catdianne

I think you could very well be correct, Di. Perhaps the BBC are embedding something like a signature code in the stream that ATV recognizes and blocks. Having said that, I CAN watch iPlayer on my smart TV by mirroring my Macbook screen. It occasionally gets a bit choppy, but I suspect that's a router bandwidth limitation issue specific to mirroring (2.5 GHz in my case). Anyway, I'm glad you posted as I was thinking of trying out Chromecast but will now pass on that. The irony is, with all of this, I would be so willing to pay (let's call it) an "ex-pat" BBC licence fee. I don't think I'm alone in that. Please post again if you figure something out. Good luck!

Reply

Answer 13

Jun 27, 2015 5:16 AM in response to terence1957

HI, I had the same problem, was looking to program routers et. But had a thought. I signed into iTunes with my UK Apple TV and don't have any issues. Make sure you select Apple TV before watching. If you don't you will get an error message. Only go get rid of that is to do a hard reboot. Press down the home key as well as off switch. Hopefully that will fix your problems. Obviously you will need to use your von. Di

Reply

Answer 14

Jun 27, 2015 10:42 AM in response to Catdianne

Hi Di,

I think we are on slightly different pages. Not your fault as this thread got slightly off-topic from the title. I was talking about streaming iPlayer in another country other than the UK. So I don't have a UK Apple TV (Canada in fact) and am trying to figure out where the block is coming from. All I have figured out is that if VPN is involved ATV manages to block it.

-T

Reply

Answer 15

Jun 27, 2015 7:48 PM in response to terence1957

HI, I am in Australia with UK Apple ID, very easy to get. As long as I am logged in with this I'd I can watch bc I player with tunnel bear. Di

Reply