BBC iPlayer withdrawn from 2012 Smart TV - how can I get it back free or cheaply

Hallux

BBC have removed iPlayer for my 2012 Samsung Smart TV (UE46ES6710) as of 30th Oct 2024.  I have researched smartphone/ipad apps to provide screen mirroring to use it via my phone/ipad on my nice 46inch HD TV screen but they all draw you in and don't work unless you go deeper with more apps that demand monthly subscriptions payments.

(It galls me because we are now paying more than ever for our TV licence despite the fact that we are both pensioners.  Most of the programmes are repeats (and rubbish that we don't watch) but we don't get a repeat licence for free!  We are paying more and more for less and less.  Grumping over!)

Has anyone else encountered this and found a way to do this for free (or very cheaply)?  I'm happy to commit to a reasonable one-off purchase but don't want any recurring subscriptions.

What is the most cost effective and simplest way forward?

oldernonethewiser

Seems to be after a software update by Samsung.

Maybe some help here - https://eu.community.samsung.com/t5/tv/bbc-iplayer-itv-hub-all4-my5-disappeared-from-smart-hub/td-p/1447792/page/4

Not sure what your age has to do with anything, seems more to be an issue with the age of the TV.

MattMattMattUK

Buy an Amazon Fire Stick for £34, though if you are prepared to wait they are regularly discounted to £19.99.

muffinhead

Take a look on Freecycle / Freegle / Gumtree / Facebook Marketplace for anyone giving away a free BT Youview box. I have one setup with an old telly and iPlayer works great on it.

Rodders53

Cheap Fire TV stick, Chromecast TV, Roku or similar will provide a better streaming experience and for longer in all likelihood.
You may be able to pick one up in an early Black Friday deal.

Samsung/BBC have withdrawn support for older TVs as they can't meet the requirements for the service or too few receivers are in use to warrant the specific version of iPlayer needed to service them.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/help/questions/supported-devices/samsung#2012 not all those 12 year old sets are losing it.