I bought a new TV today for our kitchen. The old one stopped working after digital switchover this week, so I replaced it with an internet-connected one that enables us to watch BBC iPlayer on TV. John Lewis in High Wycombe said the Samsung UE22ES5400 LED 22 inch TV would do just this.
I was impressed by how easy it was to set up. But I couldn't find the iPlayer. The web based iPlayer said the BBC didn't support my device (above).
I didn't think that mattered. After all, Samsung's BBC iPlayer app features prominently on the company's website - but that was also missing:
At this point, I called John Lewis. Its friendly technical help person couldn't help. He said I could return the TV - or call Samsung. I didn't think there was much chance Samsung would answer the phone late on a Saturday afternoon. But to its credit, I did get through to someone who explained after some research that the iPlayer app wasn't yet available for the 5400 TV as it was a new model but would be in early May.
So I won't be taking the TV back to John Lewis just yet.
PS: why are TV names so obscure and impossible to remember? Samsung could learn a lot from Apple. iPhone is so much more compelling and easier to remember than UE22ES5400.
I bought a 32 inch 6710 today. Exact same issue. Seems there is a hold up on iplayer availability with all the new Samsung models....
Posted by: Nick Beavis | April 28, 2012 at 11:02 PM
Has any body seen an update on the date that iPlayer will be available. We are on the 10th May after all !
Posted by: Jim Lucraft | May 10, 2012 at 10:09 AM
Also awaiting for the update for the smart tv for the 5000 series...
Once thing I was really looking forward to! :(
Posted by: Aaron | May 12, 2012 at 05:52 PM
I couldn't find BBC iPlayer for Samsung UE37ES5500 either (though iPlayer works ok via connected Xbox 360 and/or Wii)
Posted by: Col | May 16, 2012 at 02:31 PM
We bought Samsung UE40ES5500 yesterday. It's June!! Where is iPlayer?!
Posted by: Iv | June 03, 2012 at 11:03 AM
i also have an ES series tv and i emailed samsung about the iplayer and received the back on the 23 April.
BBC are currently working on an update to enable this television to view BBC iPlayer and as soon as this is developed Samsung will release a Firmware upgrade. I can understand how this is probably not what you wanted to hear in response but it is not a case of the television not getting this application but rather it is only a matter of time, thank you for your patience.
Posted by: QPR | June 04, 2012 at 09:58 AM
I bought the ES5410 22 inch, and set it up on Saturday evening... .and even though it is now the 9th July... Still no Firmware update exists...
How many months more? Who knows!
Posted by: ASch | July 09, 2012 at 04:43 PM
I think its so inappropiate to sell tvs knowing the spec doesnt match what it can actually do. I bought my tv specifically for iplayer and i still havent got it
Posted by: rwrw | July 09, 2012 at 11:17 PM
July 11th???? what a crock of shit. iplayer doesnt work, netflix doesnt work,
Posted by: marcus | July 11, 2012 at 04:33 PM
I have an EH4510 26" model. The firmware update last week gave me NBC sport as well as iplayer, but neither work and give me a your product is not supported message?? Useless and he Samsung website is no help at all...
Posted by: Steve | July 16, 2012 at 07:01 PM
There is a similar problem with the Philips 32pfl3517t that I bought from John Lewis in Wewlwyn GC a few weeks ago. YouTube is integrated but IPlayer isn't. Can't imagine why ;-).
When we visited the branch, the staff in the Welwyn electronics department didn't help us much, they seemed to prefer Panasonic, but couldn't really explain their preference. It is very frustrating to be dealing with sales staff who seem to know less than you do!
Arrogant? Maybe. (I'm a chartered engineer,and have worked in IT since 1967).
Some companies take the trouble to make sure their staff understand fully the products they sell. Others seem not to care!
John Lewis has the reputation if a caring supplier and employer, but even in their stores from my experience customers who are knowledgeable seem to be at a disadvantage. I don't mind passing on useful knowledge to people who care, but......why should a customer have to educate sales staff who show no interest or (even worse) bias?
Perhaps the problem is "Managers" who know how to occupy an office and take an increase in salary, but not how to manage?
(Now, in recent years where have I seen that sort of behaviour?)
Posted by: Tony Thomas | September 23, 2012 at 01:21 PM