Help BBC iPlayer radio content issue

[pm5544]

Someone sent me a link to an on-demand BBC Radio London show on my mobile, when I tried to play the content it said that I needed to install the BBC Media player which I did, I then had to install the bbc iplayer, however I don't see the point because I believe the content is flash based therefore no matter if I have the bbc media installed the shows content will not play.


What happens is I see the circle spinning and the front page of the radio show, but a message pops up after about 20 seconds to say that this content isn't working, check your network connectively and try again later, but this happens all the time, it doesn't at that point say anything about needing flash, but the only reason I know it's flash based is because when I play it on the computer and right click it tells me that it's the flash player that is playing the content.

Why it requires flash I don't know because it's only a 3 hour audio radio show, but I think all their on-demand must be rendered in flash because I tried another on-demand from their list and had the same issue.

Or is it showing in flash on desktop PC only?

The address to the link is below, and I would like to hear from users of the same mobile to see if they have the same issue, this programme doesn't have long to go before it's gone.

BBC London 94.9 - Gaby Roslin, With Paul Zerdin, Amanda Cross, Patti Boulaye and Ross Leadbeater

 

[pm5544]

I think I may have found what I had thought already, because the phone doesn't support flash then the bbc iplayer streaming content won't play as it does use flash, and unfortunately this phone doesn't support it.

 

[psionandy]

Its not flash though... which is why you have to install the extra client. And it works just fine on my note 2.. with no flash installed. Connecting using 3 at the moment as im nowhere near a wifi connection.

 

[pm5544]

Its not flash though... which is why you have to install the extra client. And it works just fine on my note 2.. with no flash installed. Connecting using 3 at the moment as im nowhere near a wifi connection.

Yours is a different phone though, which operating system do you currently have on your note 2?

Btw, I installed the extra client and it still doesn't work, I only get a couple of words then the error message.

 

[psionandy]

Android 4.1.3 if thats any help.

If your really desperate to listen. You could go through the iplayer app... or the radioplayer app... and listen that way.

 

[pm5544]

Android 4.1.3 if thats any help.

If your really desperate to listen. You could go through the iplayer app... or the radioplayer app... and listen that way.

How to I get the link onto the BBC iplayer App? anyway I think I tried that somehow and it still had the same issue.

 

[psionandy]

Dont use the link... use the inbuilt navigation to find the program.

 

[pm5544]

Dont use the link... use the inbuilt navigation to find the program.

Actually I just tried that too, and guess what, the programme didn't come up after searching, strange how it works for you, I think perhaps because you have 4.1.3 as opposed to my 4.1.2.

 

[pm5544]

The BBC should be using HTML5 and not Flash, especially as Adobe has stopped updates for Flash, they also put an end to downloads too.

 

[mikedt]

The BBC should be using HTML5 and not Flash, especially as Adobe has stopped updates for Flash, they also put an end to downloads too.

Opening the original link on a phone should take you to the BBC mobile site for that particular show, which should be using HTML5 or directly streaming the MP3, and not trying to do Flash. Only reason why I think it might be trying to do Flash, is if it thinks you're using a PC or Mac and is sending you the desktop version. I often play BBC radio directly from the site on my phone, and there's no Flash. Using Google Chrome. Although I can't play this particular one at all, because this is music and I'm not in the UK. BBC doesn't allow streamed on-demand music radio programmes outside of the UK because of rights issues, although live streaming e.g. Radio 1 and 2 is available outside of the UK.

What browser are you using? Maybe the BBC site is not correctly recognising it as a mobile browser. Also many browsers have desktop mode, to allow you to view desktop sites on a mobile device.

FYI the BBC has to be careful with music programme downloads(podcasts) because they don't have the rights to distribute music that they don't own the copyrights to. Dramas like The Archers are OK for download, because it's their own production and they own the copyright. Some music and talk shows are available for download, but they usually have the music edited out and call them "Best bits of...." or something. The BBC London 94.9 programme in question is a music and talk show, so unless they take the music out they can't make it available for download, streamed only.

 

[pm5544]

Opening the original link on a phone should take you to the BBC mobile site for that particular show, which should be using HTML5 or directly streaming the MP3, and not trying to do Flash. Only reason why I think it might be trying to do Flash, is if it thinks you're using a PC or Mac and is sending you the desktop version. I often play BBC radio directly from the site on my phone, and there's no Flash. Using Google Chrome. Although I can't play this particular one at all, because this is music and I'm not in the UK. BBC doesn't allow streamed on-demand music radio programmes outside of the UK because of rights issues, although live streaming e.g. Radio 1 and 2 is available outside of the UK.

What browser are you using? Maybe the BBC site is not correctly recognising it as a mobile browser. Also many browsers have desktop mode, to allow you to view desktop sites on a mobile device.

FYI the BBC has to be careful with music programme downloads(podcasts) because they don't have the rights to distribute music that they don't own the copyrights to. Dramas like The Archers are OK for download, because it's their own production and they own the copyright. Some music and talk shows are available for download, but they usually have the music edited out and call them "Best bits of...." or something. The BBC London 94.9 programme in question is a music and talk show, so unless they take the music out they can't make it available for download, streamed only.

I am using the stock browser 4.1.2-I8160XXMK2

I was asked to install the BBC Media player and BBC Iplayer first to be able to play it, but neither play the audio.

 

[pm5544]

The BBC are using FLASH for sure as I just viewed the desktop site on the phone and it didn't refer to any of my media players only asked that I install flash which as we know isn't supported on this particular phone.

 

[mikedt]

The BBC are using FLASH for sure as I just viewed the desktop site on the phone and it didn't refer to any of my media players only asked that I install flash which as we know isn't supported on this particular phone.

Ok that's probably the browser you're using if it's loading the desktop site and not the mobile one. Check you haven't got "Desktop view" ticked in the browser settings. If that doesn't work try using Google Chrome, but again make sure "Desktop view" is not ticked.

The BBC radio mobile site does not use Flash. What should happen though you will be prompted to install this, that's if you haven't already got it....
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=air.uk.co.bbc.android.mediaplayer
The BBC Media Player app from the Play Store. Is it not working for that particular BBC London show, or is any BBC radio not working?

Another thing, are you actually in the UK or at least have a UK IP address via a VPN or whatever?

 

[pm5544]

Strange this is I can listen to the likes of Elaine Paige when using the bbci player, so what is the difference between the two sets of programmes with one playing and the other isn't, both audio only.

 

[pm5544]

I haven't got desktop view ticked at all and the programme just will not play.

 

[mikedt]

Strange this is I can listen to the likes of Elaine Paige when using the bbci player, so what is the difference between the two sets of programmes with one playing and the other isn't, both audio only.

That might be something to do with the BBC then, is Elaine Page on the same station, or is she on a national station like Radio 2 rather than a local BBC station?

FYI the original URL in your first post has now expired. Saying that this show is no longer available, so it won't be in iPlayer either.

 

[mikedt]

That's what I'm seeing now.

This show is no longer available on iPlayer. Programmes are only available for a certain time online.

 

[pm5544]

That's what I'm seeing now.
View attachment 68273
This show is no longer available on iPlayer. Programmes are only available for a certain time online.

Yes I know, but even the show she did today 02/03/14 that doesn't play either.

Btw, it surely can't be anything to do with local or national as I can play this show on the computer through the same provider as the phone is.

 

[pm5544]

The particular show was in Flash, reason why it wouldn't work on this phone.

Obviously the radio shows I am able to listen to are not rendered in Flash.