BBC Iplayer UHD

[trevforum]

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@jont-99 wrote:

It's a 4K Sony - 4K on that HDMI input albeit no HDR - that shouldn't stop it showing UHD flag though on BBC and doesn't explain why iPlayer sees the screen as normal HD resolution ?

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If I turn off HDMI HDR on my Panasonic DX902 the UHD flags disappear.  I think all iPlayer UHD content is HLG(HDR) otherwise it reverts to 1080p, however, your puck will upscale to 2160p if set to that resolution.  It seems you'll only get full UHD if your TV can do HLG.

[jont-99]

Bizarre behaviour ! ... so just setup the 2nd puck on my LGC2 - which has HDR/HLG/DV and the UHD icons are showing on the thumbnails on iPlayer - but the screen resolution in iPlayer system settings are still 1920x1080 ? ... guessing the iPayer interface is HD only and the programmes stream in HD/4K as encoded ...

Am also seeing the HDR flag on Sky show details alongside UHD on teh LG - which is correct but frustrating that there's no consistency between platforms in their programme flags !

[trevforum]

Originally Sky adopted HLG as their preferred HDR version as it meant you could, in theory, use the same content file for both UHD HDR and UHD SDR.  However, as is the case, standards are not always standard, so earlier TVs had problems knowing what type of content they were being fed and the single UHD HLG file would look dark on certain TVs.  That's why Sky now offer three formats where available, Ultra HD with HDR, Ultra HD and HD.

iPlayer only offers UHD with HLG (HDR) if your TV reports back via HDMI EDID that it is compatible.  

[darling412001]

I have also noticed this. I have to refresh apps to get UHD content to be flagged in iPlayer. 🤷

[Dazzasky]

So over the last couple of days I've been watching This City Is Ours In UHD and after the Stream box is switched off, the app reverts to the non UHD version of the app and the only way to resolve it is to go into the IPlayer settings and switch on or off the beta version. This then reloads the app so UHD is offered. Is this happening to any one else?

[Dazzasky]

I should point out as well that this happens when selecting the programme from the continue rail on Sky Stream 

[lettice]

Firstly, what do you mean by 'Stream box is switched off'

Do you mean by Standby or do you physically often switch off at the power your Sky Stream puck?

Is it just that  single programme, or is it doing it for other UHD, like the latest current Doctor Who series?

I no longer run the BBC iPlayer in beta mode, but may try later.

[Dazzasky]

I mean standby mode, when I switch it back on and select the programme again from the continue rail, the programme plays in HD and I have to carry out the process on IPlayer that I listed in my previous post. 

[lettice]

Yes, doing same for me when switching on the iPlayer beta.

Fine in uhd, once switched into beta, then drop Sky Stream puck to standby, back in iPlayer and no uhd.

Switching off the beta mode and it's back to uhd and then switching back to beta all ok.

Sounds like the latest beta has an error.

Perhaps worth also trying the BBC iPlayer team, they do have a contact chat and email;

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/help/questions/need-more-help/contact/

[Dazzasky]

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@lettice wrote:

Yes, doing same for me when switching on the iPlayer beta.

Fine in uhd, once switched into beta, then drop Sky Stream puck to standby, back in iPlayer and no uhd.

Switching off the beta mode and it's back to uhd and then switching back to beta all ok.

Sounds like the latest beta has an error.

Perhaps worth also trying the BBC iPlayer team, they do have a contact chat and email;

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/help/questions/need-more-help/contact/

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At least I know it's not only me, thanks @lettice 

[lettice]

Does look like a Sky Stream issue.

Just tried on a couple of Smart TVs and Roku and works fine.

Does it do it on a Sky Glass TV? I do not have one, but I think you may have one.

Might be worth reporting it and referencing this thread in the Superuser area for Sky to also pick up.

[Dazzasky]

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@lettice wrote:

Does look like a Sky Stream issue.

Just tried on a couple of Smart TVs and Roku and works fine.

Does it do it on a Sky Glass TV? I do not have one, but I think you may have one.

Might be worth reporting it and referencing this thread in the Superuser area for Sky to also pick up.

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I agree, IPlayer works as expected when using another device. Just put another episode on and same problem, IPlayer in HD mode and the beta settings were switched off as well.  I I don't have a glass tv, so can't test. 

[KevNewMedia]

Morning @Dazzasky and @lettice 

Thanks for tagging me into this, a few questions...

• Does the problem happen on any other UHD content? If so, which?
• Do you normally use the beta version of the app?
• Which build is your equipment running? (ie QS36.xxx)
• Does removing the content from your Playlist and re-adding have any impact (without using the beta version)?

[Dazzasky]

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@KevNewMedia wrote:

Morning @Dazzasky and @lettice 

Thanks for tagging me into this, a few questions...

• Does the problem happen on any other UHD content? If so, which?
• Do you normally use the beta version of the app?
• Which build is your equipment running? (ie QS36.xxx)
• Does removing the content from your Playlist and re-adding have any impact (without using the beta version)?

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Hi @KevNewMedia I have since discovered it is not just viewing UHD content, it can be any content from the continue rail.  
Switching the Beta version on / off reloads BBC IPlayer which results in the UHD version coming back. 
When exiting IPlayer which is still in the UHD version and switching my TV and Stream box off (standby mode) and turning both back on again several minutes later, If I select any BBC programme ( e.g Eastenders ) from the continue rail on Stream, I can see that IPlayer is only showing HD content only for all programmes again and if I select any programme that I know is in UHD, it only plays the HD version and I have to go through the motions of reloading IPlayer to get it to switch to the UHD version of the app. I hope that makes sense. 
 Stream is currently running QS35. 
I don't use the beta version

[lettice]

• Does the problem happen on any other UHD content? If so, which? No it's just any BBC iPlayer UHD content when the Beta version is set to On within the app settings.
• Do you normally use the beta version of the app? No, only changed to the Beta version in the iPlayer app to test what @Dazzasky had mentioned in the original community.
• Which build is your equipment running? (ie QS36.xxx) Both my pucks are on QS035.016.00P and the iPlayer version is 35.49.4.0 ( whether iPlayer beta mode is on/off)
• Does removing the content from your Playlist and re-adding have any impact (without using the beta version)? No, it's just that when the Beta version is set to On within the iPlayer app any UHD content is flagged and played as HD in the iPlayer app. But there is no need to do that though, as any playlist content that was previously added and shows as UHD, will still work, if the Beta version  is set to off in the BBC iPlayer app.