Limited app availability on new MacBook Air compared to Windows 10 laptop

First, did you get an iMac (desktop) or a Macbook Air (laptop)? There is no "iMac Air."

All our streaming videos services have apps for our iPads, iPhones, and AppleTV. On our Macs, we have always used browsers to access the same services with no loss of quality.

Our banks and credit union all have apps for mobile devices but we have always accessed the same services from our Macs through browsers with no inconvenience nor loss of function.

Many Windows user do exactly the same with their browsers.

When you get into certain high-end business and professional science/engineering apps, those may be Windows-only with no exact equivalent or substitute. In our 35 years of using Macs, those are the only times we encountered an issue.

I'm not entirely sure what you were expecting.

MacOS is more akin to Windows.

iOS (iPhone and AppleTV) are more akin to Android.

There are no 'Windows' apps for any of the sites you mention. For desktop use (MacOS or Windows), they typically depends on web access in a browser.

All the 'apps' you mention are available on the web:

BBC iPlayer - https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer

BBC Sounds - https://www.bbc.com/sounds

ITVx - https://www.itv.com/

Nationwide - https://www.nationwide.co.uk/

Sky News - https://news.sky.com/

BBC News - https://www.bbc.com/news

As far as I'm aware, this would be the same on Windows, where none of these sites (as far as I can tell) have specific Windows applications, so if you're looking for an equivalent experience, you're set.

That said, if you do want to run the apps, and assuming your iMac has an M-based (Apple Silicon) processor, then you can download most iOS apps from the App Store and run them on your Mac, without iPhone mirroring (doesn't work for all apps, but it's worth a try if you don't want to use a web browser). On your Mac, open the App Store search for the app, and click the 'iPhone and iPad Apps' to get the iOS-native app:

If you decide a Mac isn't for you, return it for a full cash refund. You have fourteen days to do that, so don't wait.

Refer to Returns & Refunds - Shopping Help - Apple

BBC – iPlayer Help – Supported devices

BBC - iPlayer Help – Computer issues

BBC – iPlayer Help – Getting started on a computer

I didn't see any computers on the first help page, and the second page mentions JavaScript, a language normally implemented only in the context of Web browsers.

The third help page confirms it.

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What computers can I use BBC iPlayer on?

The BBC iPlayer website is available on the following computers:

• • Mac
  • Windows PC
  • Linux

You'll need to use one of our supported internet browsers to use the BBC iPlayer website. Find out what browsers are supported on the Supported internet browsers and operating systems page. 

Not sure what a browser is? It’s a piece of software installed on your computer that gives you access to websites. 

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There is no iPlayer app for macOS, or for Windows. If it turns out that you can run the iPhone/iPad app on an Apple Silicon Mac, or the Android app in an Android emulator on Windows, that's nice, but it's not the fashion in which the BBC expects you to access their service.

This is common with many services that support multiple platforms. They'll go to the trouble to develop dedicated apps for iOS/iPadOS, Android, maybe also smart TVs, video game consoles, etc. – but when it comes to computers, they'll put up a Web site and expect everyone to use that.

On a computer, many of those services are meant to be accessed through a web browser instead of an individual application.

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I would add that (1) many apps will also provide an Apple version if you look and (2) in most cases you can find an alternative Mac app that provides the same functionality. So, take some time and look for what you need before deciding that it doesn't exist.

BBC iPlayer – Help – What is BBC iPlayer suggests that there are probably regional restrictions:

As long as you’re in the UK you can enjoy BBC iPlayer on a computer, phone, tablet, smart TV or games console using the BBC iPlayer app (connected TV, mobile and tablet only) or the BBC iPlayer website.

I have an M-series Mac. When I look in the App Store, I see a BBC America app that is "Designed for iPad. Not verified for macOS." I do not see an official BBC iPlayer app, and this is probably because I am not in the U.K.

See also BBC – iPlayer Help – Do I need a valid TV license to use BBC iPlayer?

Lesson learned, when buying technology ensure it meets your needs before making the purchase.

Maybe you need to learn to use your new device. There are likely ways to access similar apps/capabilities/functionality.

I searched for some of the apps you mention in the Microsoft Store and I couldn't find them. How do you think you can get a BBC iplayer app, Nationwide banking app, for Windows. OK I'm using Windows 11 not 10, is it that different you can get player on 10?