BBC forces iPlayer users to adopt email

Charlton_King

Am I right in this supposition or is there something I'm missing?

My friend informs me that their elderly parent can no longer access iPlayer on their BT provided service. This 80-something is now being required to provide an email address in order to 'register', without which the service is barred to him.

He does not use computers or the internet in any way whatsoever apart from the streamed TV service - which he probably thinks is no different from what used to come via direct broadcast received via aerial.

In effect, the BBC is forcing this pensioner to start using computers and email, which he has never done. I had thought that the BBC was bound by law to provide their services to all UK licence fee holders possessing appropriate receiving equipment, irrespective of whatever other technical equipment or abilities they might (choose to) possess...

...or is there some other way in which this person can 'register'?

A cursory look at the BBC FAQs tell me there isn't...

Carrot007

If they have the internet they have email.


Without the internet there is no iplayer.


Surely they check the internet email for any messages from their supplier? They could get problems if they ignore it.


It is reasonable to expect someone with the internet to be able to use it.


Unless there is some magic iplayer that does not use the internet. I also have no idea what you mean by BT provided service. I assume some sort of freeview box with net addons.


Additional:
I believe the only way you will get iplayer without an email soon, is going to be sky. But they have other arangements. And who knows it might change.

woody2234

Basically you need 2 devices connected to internet at the same time ie my Amazon fire stick connected to my tv and on BBC iplayer is asking for or showing a code so then I have to walk 3 metres and go on my Laptop computer then go online and go bbc register and enter the code which is shown on my TV screen which is 3 metres away then the BBC website sends a signal to the fire stick connected to the TV and then all is well (when you look at your tv screen which is connected to bbc iplayer website with a message to enter a code it does not tell you clearly to "use another device at the same time to register" , yes it does tell you you can use a smart phone or whatever to register. but does not tell you to connect 2 devices at the same time

EveryWhere

Your friend or yourself can do it for him. He won't need to access the email again unless he forgets the password that you set up and even then, your friend or yourself can retrieve/reset it.
No need to panic..

JJ_Egan

Same with the other catchup services .

Gloomendoom

Charlton_King wrote: »

I had thought that the BBC was bound by law to provide their services to all UK licence fee holders possessing appropriate receiving equipment, irrespective of whatever other technical equipment or abilities they might (choose to) possess... .

Does the law actually say that?

KxMx

JJ_Egan wrote: »

Same with the other catchup services .

ITV Hub & My5 do not require accounts or email addresses. I watch both via a NOW TV box without.

RumRat

It's the 21st century.....You can't hold everything back until everyone catches up. If it were my father, I would have sorted it for him, but he's only 90 and managed it himself.
For over 80's it's a totally free service, a one off log in that anyone can do for them is hardly 'force'. And as said, if they are using it , they are using the internet.

victor2

I just used a made-up mailinator address for registering our TVs on iPlayer (and other services). It doesn't have to be a real address, you don't need it again after registering. Easily done if you have a smartphone, tablet or other device to hand with an internet connection.
One of the services (can't remember which) would not accept a mailinator address so I just made up a completely fictitious address and domain. No code was needed anyway, so that worked. They just wanted an address to presumably target junk email at you.

dipsomaniac

what is the problem with having a email account? surely a positive thing these days? you will also get a few brownie points from the green !!!!!

dipsomaniac

why can't i say green m a f i a on here?