SD material is 50fps certainly through all the TV-based iPlayer platforms I've used (Virgin, Sky, Roku/NowTV, Samsung and Chromecast), it's only on the web they're restricted to 25fps for some reason.
On a similar note, the ITV Hub app via Virgin has recently bought in 50fps playback, though the Roku/Now TV version is still 25p. Can't speak for other platforms as I haven't tried them recently.
ITV content via Virgin is strange because it's delivered in two ways- through Virgin's own own demand interface, which has always been 50i, but is still only SD (and low bitrate SD at that), but they also launched the ITV Hub app on there around 18 months ago, which has content in HD, but was only 25p until recently. As opposed to BBC content which has only been available through the iPlayer app for years. Virgin doesn't have the All4 or My5 apps , Channel 4 and 5 content is only through Virgin's interface (Channel 5 content has HD, Channel 4's doesn't).
I still wish more streaming services would bring in 50/60fps streaming, especially premium one. If the BBC and now ITV can do it, why can't the big players like Netflix and Amazon? With UKTV bringing in the early series of The Bill as streaming only, it's incredibly frustrating it means we can only see it in 25p, and badly deinterlaced at that (lots of jagged lines and very jerky movement).
Last edited by james-2001 on 17 May 2020 7:25pm