Help / Player
Can RealPlayer be installed on a Linux / Unix computer?
Yes. There are versions of RealPlayer made specifically for Linux and Unix based computers, as well as an open source Helix Player.
However, some users have found that the RealPlayer plug-in, which is used by the BBC Player, may or may not function fully depending on a combination of what flavour of Unix/Linux you are using, which browser you are using, which version of browser you are using, and which version of GCC built the plug-in during installation.
You may find that you are only able to listen by following the “Listen using stand-alone RealPlayer” links within the BBC Player.
Installing RealPlayer in Ubuntu
James Cridland, Head of Future Media & Technology, BBC Audio & Music Interactive, has provided a helpgul step-by-step guide to installing RealPlayer on Ubuntu:
1. Open Synaptic
Synaptic is the software that will install Real Player for you.
- Run System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager.
- Type your password when it asks you.
2. Tell Ubuntu where to find commercial software
Real Player is commercial software, so we need to tell Ubuntu how it can find that if we search for it.
- Under the 'Settings' menu, choose 'Repositories'.
- Click the 'Third party software' tab.
- Click the 'Add' button at the bottom of the window.
- In the window that appears, type:
deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu dapper-commercial main
- Then click 'OK' to enter that information, and 'close'.
- A window will appear saying that the repositories have changed.
- Click 'close'.
- Click the 'reload' button on the top-left of the toolbar.
- After a few seconds, it’ll load a few files.
3. Install Real Player
Now Synaptic will know all about commercial software, like Real Player. (Don’t worry, it’s still a free download).
- Hit the 'search' icon in the toolbar, and search for 'realplay'.
- You’ll see a few programs appear in the search results window. Tick the one called 'realplay' and choose 'Mark for Installation'.
- Then press 'Apply' in the toolbar; then 'apply' again.
- Synaptic will automatically download a file (6 megabytes).
- Close your browser while it's doing this, so it can install correctly.
- Synaptic will automatically install Real Player onto your system.
4. Open BBC iPlayer to start listening
- Open your browser
- Visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod
- Choose a station or programme to listen to.
- Enjoy.
If this does not answer your question sufficiently you may find more help on the pages linked to from the right hand side.
