STV Player

STV Player
Developer(s)STV Group plc
Initial releaseJuly 2009
Operating systemWindows, Mac, Linux
PlatformWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, AirPlay, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Freesat, Freeview Play, Now, Roku, Sky Glass, Sky Go, Sky TV, Samsung Smart TV, Virgin Media, YouView[1]
Available inEnglish
TypeTelevision catch-up, archive, exclusive content, live broadcast
Websitewww.stv.tv

STV Player is a video on demand service owned by STV Group and available free-of-charge across the UK, online, on mobile and on all major TV platforms, including Sky Glass, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Freeview Play, Freesat and Virgin Media.

Officially launched in July 2009 following a soft launch the previous year, STV Player was initially established as an online catch-up service for viewers of the STV channel in Scotland.[2] The platform has since rolled out UK-wide[3] as an advertising-based video on demand (AVOD) service with a focus on international drama box sets.[4] In February 2019, STV Player+ was launched, allowing viewers with a monthly subscription to stream and download Player content without pre-roll or mid-roll advertising.[5]

In January 2021, after launching on Sky Q in all four nations of the UK the previous month,[6] STV Player reported that its monthly active user base had grown by a fifth and online viewing on the platform had doubled year-on-year.[7] It was nominated for "best on demand service of the year" at the Edinburgh International Television Festival's annual awards ceremony in 2021.[8]

  1. ^ "Which platforms are supported by STV Player?". STV. 21 January 2022.
  2. ^ "STV relaunches online catch-up service as STV Player". www.thedrum.com.
  3. ^ "Major content drop marks STV Player UK-wide rollout". www.rapidtvnews.com.
  4. ^ "Record STV Player deal promises 1,200 hours of 'high-end drama and compelling factual series': Euros ad boost". www.scotsman.com.
  5. ^ Clover, Julian (25 February 2019). "STV launches SVOD service". Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Sky Q viewers gain access to hundreds of hours of new boxsets at no extra cost". www.express.co.uk. 21 December 2020.
  7. ^ "STV Player streaming service sees viewing double amid lockdown boost". www.scotsman.com.
  8. ^ "Edinburgh TV Festival reveals awards shortlist, names first jury president". www.realscreen.com. Retrieved 4 November 2021.