replacing TV

TheUmpteenth

Hi folks,

so, with a move on the cards, I'm thinking of replacing my TV service with a mix of downloads and streaming services. I think this will prove to be cheaper than Virgin Cable or Sky Satellite.

First, has anyone tried this? does it actually work out? For me, I think it'll be a doomed experiment, because I have a 4 year old. He's not going to want to wait till we download Mickey Mouse's Clubhouse. I think this is the only chance I'll have to try it tho. I'm talking Netflix, XBMC and the various iPlayers, supplemented by downloads. (anyone know where to legally download tv?)

Second, and the main reason for the thread, We'll definitely be getting broadband. I know that a lot of unlimited packages have throttled extreme users (Virgin, I'm looking at you), does anyone have any recommendations or advice about choosing an ISP with no tv service?

Cheers

Xplozion

There isn't anywhere to legally download TV free but there are On Demand pay services.

Have you thought of the other options, that are cheaper than Virgin Media such as YouView from TalkTalk or BT?

TheUmpteenth

Xplozion wrote: »

There isn't anywhere to legally download TV free but there are On Demand pay services.

Have you thought of the other options, that are cheaper than Virgin Media such as YouView from TalkTalk or BT?

It's the next step if this doesn't work out. On demand such as netflix? Are there others with good, up to date selections?

Xplozion

Yes On Demand as in Netflix. Other gooduns are NOW TV, LOVEFiLM Instant, Sky Go Extra etc.

I've got YV from TalkTalk and whilst it has bugs, it's such great value and there's so much content - you can even use NOW TV on it.

TheUmpteenth

Guys, I'm told sky and bt infinity (not normal bt) are reliably fast and unthrottled.

Xplozion

I presume you mean Sky Fibre and BT Infinity (normal non fibre Sky Broadband is the same as all the rest).

Said services are very fast compared to standard broadband as they rely on a technology called FTTC (Fibre To The Cabinet). Basically the cables from the telephone exchange to the cabinets (the green BT boxes on the side of the road) are fibre optic, then from the cabinet to your home it is a standard copper cable. The fibre optic cables used between the exchange and cabinet can carry data at a faster speed (if I'm right) than the copper cables used for standard (or ADSL) broadband which is why the service is faster.

Other fibre optic services than those mentioned, for example TalkTalk Fibre, Plusnet Fibre etc are just as fast as Sky's and BT's. If you are in an area which has FTTC availability then I'd go for it especially if you're going to be watching TV through the internet.