BBC viewers 'disappointed' after decision to remove popular iPlayer feature

The BBC has announced a big change to its iPlayer streaming service, and many viewers aren't happy.

If you're planning on catching up on The Apprentice, Dragons' Den or the second series of Kin on the train, that's about to get a little bit more difficult.

The change might also impact your ability to watch Gavin and Stacey, which is said to be returning for a brand new special, as well as the likes of Time and The Traitors.

Viewers are slamming the 'terrible decision'. Some called it 'appalling' as they asked what they were 'paying for'.

Carl Court/Getty Images

So, BBC is phasing out the iPlayer Downloads feature for PCs and Macs in the following weeks, meaning you won’t be able to download episodes of Trigger Point for a screen bigger than your phone or tablet.

From 11 March, you’ll no longer be able to use the download feature on desktop, where users have to download a separate app to download shows from the website.

This differs from our phones and tablets where we can do it all on the app - and will still be able to. And the change is due to a reported increase in people using those instead of laptops to watch their shows.

A BBC spokesperson told LADbible: “We have made the difficult decision to close the ‘Desktop Downloads’ app for BBC iPlayer, due to the low number of people using it and the cost required to keep it going.

"This does not affect downloads on the BBC iPlayer mobile or tablet apps and viewers can continue to stream programmes on BBC iPlayer on their PCs and Macs.”

RTÉ

In a statement shared by the Mirror, BBC explained: “We have started the process of closing the Desktop Downloads App. Downloading programmes from a computer or laptop will no longer be available from Monday, March 11 but you can still watch your existing downloads until Monday 8 April 2024.”

It also added: “You can also still download your favourite programmes on your mobile device, and add programmes to your Watchlist to return later.”

But a lot of iPlayer users are disappointed with this upcoming change, as they slam it as a ‘terrible decision’ on X.

Many call it a ‘very bad move’ and rather ‘odd’. Others used it as an opportunity to slate the TV license fee as they asked: “Then what exactly are we paying for?”

Another called it an ‘appalling decision’, while one significantly less annoyed viewer said: “To be fair, I thought that had ended years ago.”