When do programmes become available on ´óÏó´«Ã½ iPlayer?

This depends on whether the programme was pre-recorded or live.Ìý

  • It was pre-recorded
    Usually pre-recorded programmes (like a dramas, soaps or documentaries) are available just after the broadcast ends, but sometimes it can take a while to process.
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  • It was broadcast live
    Live, or close-to-live, programmes (like sports coverageÌýor shows like Have I Got News for You) take longer than pre-recorded programmes to be available as they cannot be processed until after the broadcast has ended.

With Live Restart there is no need to wait

If a programme has finished but isn't yet available on demand, you may be able to use Live Restart to rewind live channel on ´óÏó´«Ã½ iPlayer to watch it.ÌýFor more on this, check theÌýHow do I use Live Restart?Ìýpage.

‘Check back later today’ message

On some TV devices, there may be a longer time between the live broadcast finishing and itÌýbeing available on-demand. If you areÌýseeing a message on your TV advising to 'Check back later today,' have a look here for more info: Why am I seeing a 'Check back later today' screen ?

‘This programme is not currently available on ´óÏó´«Ã½ iPlayer’ message

If a message is displayed advising ‘This programme is not currently available on ´óÏó´«Ã½ iPlayer,’ this likely means we don’t have the distribution rights to make it available on iPlayer.ÌýCheckÌýtheÌýAre all programmes that are broadcast available on ´óÏó´«Ã½ iPlayer? page for more information.

‘Available Soon’ message

If a programme is listed as 'available soon' and is still not available after a full day, Contact Us to let us know.Ìý

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