In BBC iPlayer, sideloading is the term used when you transfer a programme to your portable media device.
You may have come across sideloading before if you've transferred pictures from your digital camera to your computer, or music from your computer to your portable media player.
To download and play a programme on a compatible portable device:
Click on ‘Select your download’ which is located below the media player on the appropriate iPlayer programme page and choose ‘For Portable Devices’.
You will then see the following window. Select ‘Download’.
Once download, the programme file will be on your computer.
Before you transfer the file to a portable device you will need to play the programme briefly to verify the viewing licence. Once you do this then the 7 day expiry countdown begins.
You can then transfer the file to your portable device. Always ensure you have sufficient memory to download a programme and that you have the most up-to-date firmware/operating system installed on your device - please refer to your manufacturer for any help with this.
Please note that if you do not intend to view the programme within the first 7 days of downloading, then do not play the content prior to transferring until a more suitable time. For most programmes you’ll have up to 30 days to verify the content from the date it is downloaded, although with some sports programmes this is reduced to 7 days.
Crime Watch is only available for 1 day due to legal reasons.
Further information on mobile devices can be found at the
Where to get BBC iPlayer page.
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