BBC iplayer problems

[mikeb5]

Hi,

Looking through the forums, I'm assuming no one has still come up with a fix for the appalling BBC iplayer App.

I have the UE65CU8500 which I bought over Xmas and am more than happy with the TV other than this. But have these problems with this app:

1. Picture Clarity settings don't work EXCEPT for any UHD program which they are fine.
2. Judder on any HD transmission but again fine with UHD.
3. Pretty appalling picture quality in general except for UHD.

To put it simply, the app appears to be not really fit for purpose other than for UHD programs.

My fix at the moment involves watching all UHD stuff on iplayer on the Samsung app, and all normal HD programs on my Firestick 4k (which doesn't have UHD for the BBC app).

Other than buying a Firestick Max which I can't really warrant at the moment just for iplayer this seems to be the only workaround!

I've found the so-called 'urgently seeking solution' Samsung post, but it's hardly urgent if I appear to be seeing the same sort of issues from two years ago!

Thanks

[mojomaybank]

Unable to play UHD , on a specific episode of Dr Who, starts then crashes. Just bought new 55" Neo QLED TV and regretting it already.

[Wonka70]

Yes. This set has a terrible native iPlayer app. I get that, and also it often goes out of synch. Reinstalling the app may help, but essentially Samsung need to deal with this. My set was bought in Jan. Even after firmware updates the issue persists. All other apps are fine. 

[mikeb5]

Sadly all other apps aren't fine. Since I initially posted this problem I've noted ITVX is also an absolute joke on my UE65CU8500. I've tried reinstalling etc., but it is as slow as a sunburnt slug. Whether this is Samsung's fault or the app owner is irrelevant, the Tizen OS is farcical.

I've now come to the conclusion for whatever the reason, apps are predominantly given more time to updates etc., on standalone streaming devices such as Roku and Firestick. Therefore I've now totally given up with Samsung and use these. I'd rather have bought the TV without any  Smart functionality, as I'm also fed up with the useless HDMI selector that gives nothing but grief when you install any item in the HDMI socket, but as this is not available, I'll just have to live with it.

It's a pity as I'm impressed with the hardware and picture itself, but sadly much of the 'software' extras that come with the TV feel more like useless bloatware that irritate more than help.

[mojomaybank]

Have to say ITVX is slow and farcical on all devices. It has got better over the last months. Strangely the adverts always seem to stream OK 🤦‍♂️

[mikeb5]

I have no problems on my Roku and Amazon Firestick with ITVX, but it's dreadfully slow on the Samsung when trying to  search for a program etc. As I said I've given up now with Samsung. I put up the original post back in January regarding the BBC iPlayer, nothing has been done and I've got fed up waiting and moved on.

[Gressex]

I bought my 43CU8500 a week ago (ex demo) as a replacement for an excellent value TCL TV that I returned as, being Android TV OS, it did not support iPlayer.  So imagine my surprise to find that after demonstrating in-store that the iPlayer app was supported on the Samsung - iPlayer is effectively unusable on this device on due to horizontal stuttering!

Having just found this site, I am horrified to find that this has been an issue since the beginning of the year. At least TCL admit that iPlayer is not usable on some of their TVs (yet) and at least offer a free plug-in stick as a workaround.  Samsung appear to be offering nothing in the way of compensation or effort to resolve the issue.

If there are any consumer lawyers out there I would love to know whether as a group we could start a class-action lawsuit or something similar against Samsung for their incompetence. 😞

I suggest everyone write to MoneySavingExpert to see if we can get publicity for this appalling state of affairs AND also to the BBC as they list the 2023 CU8500 in their list of iPlayer certified Samsung devices! 
See https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/help/questions/supported-devices/samsung.

P.S. I am about to upgrade my tablet and had short listed a Samsung S9, but not any more.

[Gressex]

Update: The BBC actually responded to my report of this issue (thank you BBC) and say that Samsung apparently fixed this issue back in May.  No they didn't!  It's as bad as ever despite resetting the TV SmartHub and TV network settings, reinstalling BBC iPlayer, and trying a wireless network connection instead of wired. There is also no newer version of TV firmware available on Samsung website that the one I have installed (ver1420.9).  TV is being returned to John Lewis for a refund under the 'TV is faulty' clause.

[Wonka70]

My Q90C’s iPlayer app now flickers. Junk. Any ideas? Didn’t before. 

[mikeb5]

Well it's taken 10 months or so, but it would appear the Samsung One UI update to my UE65CU8500 has cleared the BBC iPlayer issues I mentioned. It's a pity the ITVX app is still as slow as a stunned slug stuck in treacle, but you can't expect miracles with Samsung. Evidence suggests I am still going to have to use my Firestick etc to watch ITVX for a number of months yet.

[Wonka70]

It's an absolute joke. I have had this TV since January and  have an Amazon stick. On that all players function. On the Samsung's turgid Tizen, most are terrible. I need to pause and unpause to get them in synch. It's faulty software. I am going to get Apple TV, but will also write to Watchdog as they're a huge company that don't care at all. None of the  IP address changes or anything can fix this. It's a joke. The pic however is perfect. Samsung are a bad company with terrible customer service. If only Apple made TVs. Their box will have to do. Come on Samsung, this is not honest.