How to play BBC iPlayer video on Android

According to BBC, you can download TV programmes over Wi-Fi to watch later without needing an internet connection, but “Devices that don’t currently support the digital rights management (DRM) system that we use for BBC iPlayer can’t download programmes to watch later.” If you download a programme, you can watch it in seven days only.

BBC iPlayer

About DRM

DRM is a technology used by content providers, such as online stores (iTunes Movie Store, Amazon, BBC, etc), to control how the digital music and video files you obtain from them are used and distributed. So it is the distributor who decides what the device you use to watch movies purchased from their online movie store. Unfortunately Android devices have not been granted to play DRM-protected movies for the time being.

So what if my device does not support DRM? Here’s a solution for your reference – cracking the DRM system and converting the BBC video (.wmv or .mp4) into free MP4 files that are naturally supported by any Android tablet/smartphone.

DRM removal tool- Pavtube ChewTune ($29)

Click to purchase the app or download a trial- a trial puts watermark on converted videos.

(Click here for Mac OS X 10.5)

Now you’re ready to remove DRM from BBC iPlayer movies with ChewTune:

1. Run the BBC iPlayer to Android Converter, click “Add” button on the main interface to import BBC iPlayer movies, or you may drag and drop the movies from movie library to the software.

iTunes to Android Converter

2. Click “Format” and select an output format under “Android” group for playing on your Android device. There are optimized video format for Nook HD tablet, Xperia Z4, Kindle Fire HDX, Kindle Fire HD, Nexus 9, Nexus 6, Galaxy Tab S, Galaxy S6/S6 Edge, HTC One M9, Asus Transformer Prime/Infinity TF700, Xoom, Acer Iconia Tab etc.

compatible format with Android

3. Click “Convert” to create DRM-free BBC iPlayer movies. The conversion proceeds as BBC iPlayer/Windows Media Player plays the movies. So DO NOT turn off the player until the conversion is completed.

convert

When conversion completes, click “Open” to locate the DRM-free movies. Now you’re ready to transfer DRM-free BBC iPlayer movies to Android tablet. When your Android tab is connected to computer via USB cable, you can put movies easily to the tablet since the device acts like a USB stick after tapping “Connect as USB Storage” on the screen. Hope this article is really helpful for you to watch BBC iplayer videos on Android.

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