Samsung report software glitch
A software glitch is preventing the BBC’s iPlayer streaming service from running on many of Samsung’s smart TVs.
Affected owners are being advised to download a software update but the patch does not work on some older models, which will have to wait until next year to get a separate fix.
The BBC has said that it expects thousands of screens to be unable to use its catch-up service over Christmas as a consequence.
Samsung said the problem had been caused by “security certificates” expiring. These are used to verify that the software on the TVs has permission to access iPlayer’s library of content.
The BBC said the South Korean firm was supposed to have provided a firmware update to its TVs before this happened.
The broadcaster limits its shows to certified equipment to help ensure that viewers get an acceptable level of performance.
“Samsung tell us they are working hard to address the problem with their firmware and any viewers who are experiencing difficulty watching iPlayer on Samsung TVs should contact the manufacturer to get it fixed,” said a spokesman from the BBC.
Samsung has advised that some TVs should start working again after installation of an automatic update, but that some owners would need to force the upgrade themselves via a settings menu.
