BBC iPlayer launches on Apple TV

The BBC's catch-up TV app, which won a What Hi-Fi? Product of the Year Award in October, has never previously been available on Apple TV, despite being available on rival streaming boxes such as Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast and Now TV.

The BBC has now revealed that iPlayer has come to the new Apple TV box, after announcing it would eventually be available when the new box went on sale. You'd previously been able to stream the iPlayer app on your phone or tablet to Apple TV, but this is the first time the BBC has had a dedicated iPlayer app on the platform.

Dan Taylor-Watt, head of BBC iPlayer said: "With the launch of iPlayer on new Apple TV, I’m delighted we've been able to give people another way of accessing the full breadth and range of BBC programmes."

Sky is currently the only major TV broadcaster to offer an app for Apple TV. There's no word on whether ITV, Channel 4 or Five will follow suit.

The new Apple TV box comes with a new tvOS operating system and a Siri-powered voice remote control, and is available to order now from the Apple store.

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Joe is the Content Director for What Hi-Fi? and Future’s Product Testing, having previously been the Global Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-Fi?. He has worked on What Hi-Fi? across the print magazine and website for almost 20 years, writing news, reviews and features on everything from turntables to TVs, headphones to hi-fi separates. He has covered product launch events across the world, from Apple to Technics, Sony and Samsung; reported from CES, the Bristol Show, and Munich High End for many years; and written for sites such as the BBC, Stuff and The Guardian. In his spare time, he enjoys expanding his vinyl collection and cycling (not at the same time).