BBC iPlayer

Broadcast Rights

Competitions available on BBC iPlayer

FIFA Women's World Cup

2019-2025

BBC has secured British media rights to the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023. BBC is set to provide extensive tournament coverage by joining ITV in showing all 64 matches live in the UK. The matches have been slotted on various BBC channels. The 2023 Women's World Cup Final is scheduled to air live on both BBC1 and ITV1 in the UK.

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In addition to television coverage, live audio commentary is available on BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra. Viewers can also access match highlights through the BBC's online platforms, including BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website. Pregame and postgame shows are expected to be included in the broadcast lineup, with match highlights and recaps.

UEFA Euro

2024

Fans can watch the UEFA Euro 2024 live on TV and online in the UK. The BBC has secured British broadcasting rights for a curated selection of the tournament's key matches, ensuring comprehensive coverage across its platforms. This includes live broadcasts of England’s opening two group games against Serbia and Denmark, scheduled for 16 and 20 June, respectively, and Scotland’s matches against Switzerland and Hungary on 19 and 23 June.

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The BBC's Euro 2024 portfolio is further enriched with the first choice for the quarter-finals and live coverage of marquee matches involving big teams such as Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, and Portugal. Additionally, the broadcaster has agreed to feature two group stage games involving the host nation, Germany, emphasizing the breadth of its coverage. In addition to television broadcasts, the BBC's Euro 2024 coverage is also scheduled for live streaming on OTT service BBC iPlayer and live commentary on its radio channels. This multi-platform approach caters to a diverse audience, ensuring that viewers and listeners have the flexibility to engage with the tournament's pivotal moments across BBC TV channels, online via BBC iPlayer, and through audio broadcasts on BBC radio. Collaborating with ITV to broadcast the final match, the BBC aims to deliver an immersive viewing experience for football fans. Coverage plans aside from live action from the UEFA Euro 2024 on BBC in the UK also include in-depth analysis and comprehensive match highlights.

UEFA Women's Euro

2025

UEFA Champions League

2024-2027

The BBC has acquired UK rights to the UEFA Champions League for the 2024-2027 cycle. It is the first time that the British public service broadcaster has landed TV rights to this competition. BBC’s Champions League contract includes match highlights on television, as well as on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and mobile apps.

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Short clips around the competition are also expected to be regularly posted on the network’s social media channels. In addition, BBC’s deal includes the Champions League final.

England - FA Cup

2021-2025

British public service broadcaster the BBC has extended its English FA Cup domestic rights until 2025. The four-year contract renewal, which takes effect in 2021, will see BBC’s free-to-air television channels air up to 18 live FA Cup matches every season. Coverage will include up to six live FA Cup games from the first and second rounds, as well as FA Cup highlights and clips online.

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The BBC will be sharing FA Cup broadcasts with British commercial network ITV.

England - Women's Super League

2024-2025

The BBC has agreed to broadcast 22 live Women’s Super League (WSL) matches in the UK during the 2024/25 season. Of these, at least 18 are scheduled to be broadcast on its main linear (television) channels. Additionally, all 22 WSL matches are set to be available for live streaming on the BBC iPlayer, allowing viewers to watch the games live online or stream them on-demand.

Scotland - Scottish Cup

2024-2029

BBC Scotland has extended its agreement with the Scottish Football Association to continue broadcasting the Scottish Cup until the end of the 2028-29 season. Under this renewed deal, BBC Scotland will provide live free-to-air coverage of one match from each round, including the final, and offer comprehensive highlights through its Sportscene programs.

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The broadcaster will also produce "near live digital highlights" and retain rights to air the Scottish FA Youth Cup Final.

About

BBC iPlayer history, coverage, features

BBC iPlayer is an internet streaming service that allows users to watch BBC-produced content on-the-go both live and on-demand. It was initially launched as a free service on December 25, 2007 and it is owned and operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation. This platform also used to provide radio service, but this was discarded in 2018 with the appearance of BBC Sounds.

BBC iPlayer has been available in a variety of platforms, including mobile phones for with Android or iOS, tablets, personal computers, video game consoles, Blu-ray players and OTT services. 

Users have always needed to provide credentials to access live content on the platform, but there was no requirement of the sort to access on-demand shows. That changed in September of 2016, when a television “license” was required to access all content in the platform.

BBC iPlayer is not only available in the UK, as users from around the world can access most of its shows. The main exception to this rule has to do with sports broadcasts, which may be geo-restricted. 

Throughout its history, BBC iPlayer has featured content not only from the British Broadcasting Corporation, but also from ITV, ITV2, ITV 3, ITV4, Channel 4, E4, More4, Film4, Channel 5, 5Star, 5 USA and S4C. In order to accomplish this, BBC iPlayer redirected the user to the broadcasters streaming service.

BBC iPlayer is available in the following languages: English, Welsh, Scottish, Gaelic, and Irish.