for3.org contact form failure - iPlayer radio button missing

[Guest]

I cant use the for3.org contact form as it gives this message
FormSnap Requires PHP Version 5.3 or better
The server this script is hosted on is using PHP Version 5.2.17.
Upgrade your server to PHP 5.3 and try again.

I have tried 2 computers at different locations
Does anyone have the same problem?

I am trying to report the following re iPlayer
Radio 3 in HD is no longer available on iPlayer using media players, thus you cannot listen to catchup radio using a web connected box and can only use Tunein web radio to listen to the current programme in HD. Having bought an expensive box expressly for that purpose I am somewhat surprised and have received an unsatisfactory reply from Andrew Gilfillan of BBC Audience Services in response to my comment using the BBC iPlayer contact form I have now complained to Radio 3 via their complaint form. Why extend the Prom catchup listening period if it cant be used in HD?

[french frank]

Hello lenzip - and welcome to the forum. You don't relly need the contact form as long as you were able to register and post your message here (no idea what the error message means).

We are just a public rabble with no knowledge of what the BBC/Radio 3 gets up to - but, other members, didn't we have a query like this before?

[Russ]

There are a number of different issues here:

- the streaming rate on catchup iPlayer is never as high as the original live broadcast;
- I am not sure whether the streaming rate on live listening via iPlayer is as high as live listening via non-iPlayer devices;
- it is not clear what your 'expensive box' is, but catchup radio has recently been deleted on new versions of iPlayer for TVs (see here);
- the length of a catchup window for a programme is not connected to a programme's streaming rate.

Some of the above have been discussed on threads in this forum. The BBC has been consistently evasive in answering many of the above, as its blog posts show.

Russ

[lenzip]

I wasnt aware that catchup iPlayer radio is not streaming at 320kb AAC - another surprise

I am using a WD TV Live media player box (£70) with its optical SPDIF output conected to my AV amplifier in digital mode to give best HD performance. (it connects to my TV with HDMI to display pages) This has an iPlayer app which has (up until last week) shown a home page with a separate Radio button.
The updated iPlayer page has no radio button - see the response from the BBC below ( I did not make an issue of HD in my original comment on the very short BBC iPlayer support contact form hence there is no reference to it)

I originally asked WD support about accessing the extended catchup period on the media player. The BBC has made great play of its decision to extend the Prom catchup period to 26 (?) days, but if even the standard 7 day catchup is not in HD and the extended period cannot be used at all then its not much use. Only a specialist PC will have an adequate HD quality audio (digital or analogue) output so this is not an option. I use my box running web radioTunein to get the current Radio 3 programme in HD
I am waiting for a response from BBC Radio 3 complaints


Dear

Reference CAS-2870773-MCDNXX

Thanks for contacting the BBC iPlayer Support Team.

We’ve received some feedback from users unhappy about the removal of radio programmes from certain Smart TVs and Connected Devices which have access to iPlayer Version 4.

The new BBC iPlayer TV application brings new benefits like collections and better discoverability options and making it the default experience.

As part of improving how we deliver radio online, the method for streaming radio programmes is changing and as such radio programmes are no longer available on BBC iPlayer for TV.

The vast majority of radio listening on TV is live, and in recognition of that we are making more live stations available through digital TV signals. If you have a Freeview or Freesat device, live radio streams are available from your digital TV's electronic programme guide.

Our analysis of the catch-up radio service through iPlayer showed that a very small number of people were using the service so we are rethinking how best to bring catch-up radio to connected TV devices.

To listen to on-demand radio programmes you'll need to listen from an alternative version of iPlayer:

• Desktop/laptop browser

• Mobile/Tablet browser

• Mobile/Tablet BBC iPlayer Radio app.

For more information about the changes please read our New iPlayer on TV blog by Marcus Parnwell, Executive Product Manager TV, TV & iPlayer:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/internet/posts/New-BBC-iPlayer-for-TVs-out-of-preview

We appreciate all feedback received and your enquiry will be used to inform a report which is sent to the BBC iPlayer team, including the head of BBC iPlayer. These reports help to improve and develop the BBC iPlayer service.

Once again, thanks for taking the time to contact us.

Kind Regards

Andrew Gilfillan

BBC Audience Services

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer

NB This is sent from an outgoing account only which is not monitored. You cannot reply to this email address but if necessary please contact us via our webform quoting any case number we provided.