I write custom player from AVPlayer for video playback. According to Apple docs set the video layer:
self.player = [IPLPlayer new]; self.player.playerLa
Use the UIApplicationWillEnterForegroundNotification as well. That way you know your app will be active and visible to the user:
UIApplicationWillEnterForegroundNotification
[[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter]addObserver:self selector:@selector(appEnteredForeground:) name:UIApplicationWillEnterForegroundNotification object:nil];