topic Re: Playback error with Channel 4 app on Chromecast in Streaming

Playback error with Channel 4 app on Chromecast

Jess991 — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 22:54:10 GMT

I'm having the same problem as the following thread: https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Chromecast/Channel-4-in-the-UK/m-p/631369

Every time I try to cast from the Channel 4 app, it plays all of the advertisements and then I get a playback error message. I can see that this has been a problem for many users here on the community and also through Reddit.

I have already followed all the steps listed in the thread and I'm still experiencing the same issue. Please help!!!!!

Re: Playback error with Channel 4 app on Chromecast

Lucyjanet — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 14:16:29 GMT

I also have this exact same problem when casting channel 4 app in the UK.

I have tried:

- Rebooting app

- Deleting and re-installing app

-reboot chromcast

- Rebooting router

- Reconnecting to WiFi

- removing automatic date time selection and switching back on

so far no solutions to this issue. We have the newest version of chromecast, I can stream successfully to Google Home Nest Display device successfully. All channel 4 apps are unable to play on chromcast.

Re: Playback error with Channel 4 app on Chromecast

richardcadman — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 19:19:14 GMT

I also have this problem ,🙃

Re: Playback error with Channel 4 app on Chromecast

gunfleet — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 14:12:46 GMT

Confirmed, same problem here casting from the Android C4 app on a mobile or from a Chrome browser on the PC.
"Error message: A playback error occurred, re-cast to try again"
It is made worse by the fact that Android/Google TV OS doesn't allow downloading from the Google Play Store of the C4 app for Sony TV's, leaving only the slow and buggy YouView C4 app as an option.

Re: Playback error with Channel 4 app on Chromecast

Adzy71 — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 20:38:20 GMT

I have the same issue and I believe it is an issue with Chromecast and Google have ignored the issue and will recommend you buy the new Google stream .... It's almost looking like it is a deliberate error

Re: Playback error with Channel 4 app on Chromecast

gunfleet — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 20:42:27 GMT

I don't think the new Google TV streamer will help. This is an issue with Channel 4 and their licensing agreements. I think they are blocking casting of C4, as they do not provide a play store app either.

Re: Playback error with Channel 4 app on Chromecast

Lucyjanet — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 21:19:16 GMT

I have the new google tv streamer, the issue is the same.

Re: Playback error with Channel 4 app on Chromecast

Lucyjanet — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 21:20:52 GMT

It also can’t be a licensing issue as I’m able to cast to my google kitchen display device without any issues.

Re: Playback error with Channel 4 app on Chromecast

manthacordery — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 10:06:08 GMT

Hi, so basically no one can cast C4 on the Google chromecast and it isn't just me and there is no solution?! It is so frustrating as I only really watch Channel 4 of the mainstream channels but now can't on my downstairs TV???!

Re: Playback error with Channel 4 app on Chromecast

gunfleet — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 14:29:53 GMT

Yes it casts OK to my Nest Hub, so it could be an Android issue, as the hubs use Fuchsia OS

Re: Playback error with Channel 4 app on Chromecast

gunfleet — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 15:25:24 GMT

The Channel 4 stream appears to be sending whatever it sends to indicate the end of the programme after the adverts have played. On the web interface it jumps to the next suggested programme, plays the adverts and terminates again.

Re: Playback error with Channel 4 app on Chromecast

Jess991 — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 18:42:33 GMT

I also emailed Channel 4 about this issue and received the following reply;

Dear Jessica,

Thank you for this information.

We greatly appreciate you sending so much detail, as it will further our investigation greatly. We have had a couple of reports of this happening to viewers, and we sincerely apologise. We have already escalated the issue, and it is being worked on by our Channel 4 Streaming engineers, and they hope to resolve this soon. We have forwarded your details so they may be able to find a common trend among the reports. We appreciate your patience while we look into this for you, and will keep you updated.

We apologise once again for the disruption to your service.

If you require further information, feel free to email me back or visit www.channel4.com/4viewers/faqs

Kind Regards,

John Forest

Channel 4 Streaming Enquiries

So they are definitely aware of it and it sounds like it could possibly be a coding issue?

Re: Playback error with Channel 4 app on Chromecast

Mellee — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 20:49:26 GMT

I have had this problem for months now. Unable to cast from either the app on my phone or from the website on my laptop to chromecast. The problem has been going on for long that I have given up even trying

Re: Playback error with Channel 4 app on Chromecast

gunfleet — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 20:52:38 GMT

Got this reply from Channel 4 support:

We’re sorry you’ve not been able to cast from the Channel 4 app to your TV. It’s a known problem and we’re working on it.

As soon as it’s fixed, we’ll let you know.

For now, Channel 4 is still available to stream on your TV via these platforms.

Many thanks
The Channel 4 Team

Re: Playback error with Channel 4 app on Chromecast

sarahh — Sun, 22 Sep 2024 20:53:20 GMT

Channel 4, you need to get on with fixing this it’s been months.

Re: Playback error with Channel 4 app on Chromecast

Joey249 — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 10:57:38 GMT

I had the same issue for ages and found a fix through a post on Sony.com.

The same as Jess mentioned, everytime I tried to cast from the Channel 4 app, it always played the advertisements and then just got a playback error stating to try recasting to fix the issue, which never worked.

This is what worked for me:

On your Chromecast, go to Settings → Apps → See all apps → Show system apps

Look for the following apps and do the following actions:
(some of these apps may not appear depending on model so just do the actions of the ones you can find)

1) Android System WebView
→Clear data
→Uninstall updates

2) Chromecast built-in
→Enable (should display as "Disable" to ensure it's enabled)
→Clear data
→Uninstall updates

3) Google Cast / Google Cast Receiver
→Enable (should display as "Disable" to ensure it's enabled)
→Clear data
→Uninstall updates

4) Restart the Chromecast by going to settings → system → restart or completely unplug the power to it.

For me, it was step 1 and 3 that worked (uninstalling the updates). Test this out and see if it works for you.

IMPORTANT

If it does work, you may want to also disable automatic updates in the play store, as I tested this and re-installing the updates for Google Cast/Chromecast built-in brought the issue back. There's no problem with updating the Android System WebView app from the play store though just avoiding the other one as mentioned.
To do this, go to Google Play Store, click your profile top right, settings, auto-update apps and select "Don't auto-update apps"

Also make sure your Chromecast is fully updated by going to Settings → System → About and System Update

The issue seems to have been created with an update to the Google Cast / Android System WebView system app, which removing the updates reverts them back to its factory state which then fixes the issue. (or at least it did for me)

If this fixes the issue for you, please repost this fix in other threads if seen as I made an account on this just to help people out as it was an annoying issue to deal with and almost no help to be seen online.

@Lucyjanet @richardcadman @gunfleet @Adzy71 @manthacordery @Jess991 @Mellee @sarahh

Re: Playback error with Channel 4 app on Chromecast

gunfleet — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 10:03:07 GMT

No this is not a fix. The problem is with Channel 4, which they have now acknowledged, so I would not recommend fixes for other Chromecast issues

Re: Playback error with Channel 4 app on Chromecast

Joey249 — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 10:07:53 GMT

Have you tried it? This is for channel 4. I was experiencing the same issue as original post for Channel 4 and Virgin Media Player, which this has fixed both, could be waiting a long time for them to actually deploy a fix considering how long the issue has been present for. The issue seems to have been created with an update to the Google Cast / Android System WebView system app, which removing the updates reverts them back to its factory state which then fixes the issue.

Re: Playback error with Channel 4 app on Chromecast

gunfleet — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 10:16:48 GMT

The problem with that fix though is you are removing all security updates to the apps including WebView, which leaves your device open to attacks.

You are then disabling automatic updates so you will not receive security fixes. It may work by reverting the apps to a previous version which does not have the issue with Channel 4, but it is not a satisfactory solution, that can only come from Channel 4 fixing it's issue with the Latest version of the Android components.

Re: Playback error with Channel 4 app on Chromecast

Kayteerid — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 10:20:24 GMT

Experiencing the same issue. SO FRUSTRATING as I’ve just bought this chromecast over a fire stick and now can’t access the majority of programmes I watch.