BFBS Player vs eir TV
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BFBS Player
Access a variety of UK TV channels and exclusive Forces content while serving overseas. Requires authentication with a Defence Gateway account for serving British Forces members and entitled users. Not intended for unsupervised use by minors.
- UK TV channels
- Exclusive Forces channels
- Overseas access
- Defence Gateway authentication
- Forces TV channel access in UK
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Provides the range of BFBS TV services to members of the British Forces, including their dependents and other entitled users serving overseas. To use the app and the services you must be a serving member of the British Forces and use your Defence Gateway account to authenticate your log in. The App is not intended for unsupervised use by minors. The range of services includes the main UK TV channels with extra channels designed exclusively for the Forces. These are intended for viewers serving or posted outside of the UK and access is restricted within the UK, apart from the Forces TV channel.
eir TV
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Stream the best in live entertainment direct to your iOS device or Apple TV at home, or on the move anywhere in Ireland. Enjoy the eir TV app on your mobile, tablet or laptop, great TV is just a swipe, tap or click away. Catch up or restart the TV shows and movies you missed or enjoy the most popular linear content on the go or at home. With up to 100 channels to stream (with an eir TV subscription), eir TV brings you the most watched channels in Ireland. As an eir TV customer you also get Amazon Prime Video on us so you can stream 1000s of movies and TV shows via the Amazon Prime app when you register via Myeir. Download the eir TV app and login with your Myeir account to enjoy the best in live and catch up entertainment. Features include*: · Up to 100 live channels · HD channels at no extra cost · Record up to 500 events · Restart programs that are currently airing · Catch up on the most-watched program *Dependent on content rights and content entitlements, some features and content may be on a pilot basis eir TV is compatible with Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD, iPhone and iPad Note: access to the content in the eir TV app is only available to customers with an eir TV subscription.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: BFBS Player at none against eir TV's shown. On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
BFBS Player ships an update every 6 months, eir TV every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | BFBS Player | eir TV |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 19.4% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 3 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 4 months — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 66 MB | 97 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | BFBS Radio | eircom Limited |
Bugs and requests
BFBS Player
Reported bugs
17 issues- App thinks users are in the UK when abroad
- App buffers constantly
- Unable to play stream
- Cannot log in
- App returns to login screen after submitting info
Show 12 moreShow fewer
- Login button not working on iPad
- App crashes
- App freezes
- Catch up cuts off last 5 minutes
- TV guide difficult to use
- Links with Defence Gateway cause login loop
- App not working on iPad after update
- Screen shrinks when asking for full screen
- Only plays in small screen on iPad
- Registration 'No' button only works
- Black screen with sound only
- Cannot AirPlay all content
Requested features
8 requests- Show all channels
- Improve location detection for overseas users
- Add Apple TV app
- Enable screen mirroring/casting
- Make app backwards compatible for older iPads
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Allow users to watch at local time
- Improve video quality
- Add more channels
eir TV
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
BFBS Player
No in-app purchases
eir TV
No in-app purchases
