Scrapping Talktalk TV for Now TV?

Cornucopia

I've just moved house, and my new address does not have fast enough broadband to support the Talktalk TV service I had been using.

I only watch Catch-up TV (and not that much of it) and do not need/have a TV licence.

After a protracted discussion with Talktalk customer services (and aided by them messing up my billing) I managed to get the TV service cancelled without an early cancellation fee. That left me with basic broadband at £2.50pm. I've added Fibre BB at £10 pm.

I've still got their YouView box, which still loads iPlayer etc. but am expecting the returns bag any day, and potentially the box to be remotely shut off.

I'm interested in Now TV, which I understand costs £10 one-off, and provides access to Catch-up TV.

I'd also potentially be interested in Movies, but I cannot see from the website whether this is linear TV channels, or just Movies on demand. (This distinction determines whether a TV licence is required or not).

Does anyone know?

Any other experiences of the Now TV box?

[Deleted User]

NOW TV requires a TV license.

VisionMan

TalkTalks YouView catch up does not. And if your now on fibre, it won't be a problem.

Cornucopia

The issue is that I initially refused to pay for the fibre upgrade, because I thought they should take the hit when the infrastructure is not up to it. (Otherwise I was compelled into a cost of £25.50pm for a basic TV service, which is v. poor VFM).

In fact, once you've covered the cost of the Youview box, I'm not convinced that the basic cost of £15.50pm for TV is that great. (Partly because they have now removed all the free/bundled content from the Talktalk player).

Once they told me my package would reduce to £2.50pm, and they offerered free fibre installation, I relented and agreed to it. Whether the TV service still works and whether they ask for the YV box back remains to be seen. I'll just wait and see. I can use my laptop or PS/3 instead if necessary.

Looking forward to 38 mbps, though - that's going to be great!

almillar

TalkTalk aren't resopnsible for the infrastructure, Openreach are. That's not your battle. It's not their fault if your metal wiring isn't fast enough. You do NOT need a licence for Now TV, as in the little box that does catch up stuff. You need it to watch or record live broadcast TV. You can watch stuff live on iPlayer now, and if you ever find yourself watching a programme live (maybe this feature will be added to NowTV for example) that's when you would need a licence.

Cornucopia

The contract issue has been resolved(*). They blinked after some badgering from me. And if they let me keep the YV box, too, that'll be a result. (Bear in mind that the badgering was done to the Indian call centre, and when it came to loyalty freebies, my call had already been handed off to the UK sales team).

The catch-up players on YV at the moment don't have live TV. You have to pay extra to get Sky channels via Talktalk, which is then streamed, but I don't do this, and therefore have an installation which is incapable of receiving live TV. (I have a 32inch monitor which has no tuner in it).

(*) It's not so much that they are responsible for the infrastructure - more that they shouldn't be locking people into contracts which they cannot honour once someone has moved house (which is a reasonable expectation). They ultimately agreed with this, so may well have a policy of unlocking contracts in these circumstances, which seems fair.

VisionMan

Unfortunately if you've cancelled your TT TV package Cornucopia, they will ask for the box back, unless you get lucky, of course.

adouglasmhor

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

NOW TV requires a TV license.

No it does not. all streamed on demand not live.

[Deleted User]

adouglasmhor wrote: »

No it does not. all streamed on demand not live.

Certainly does need a TV license.

The channels are very much streamed live, otherwise how could they offer Sky Sports channels/live events on a "day pass"?
http://www.nowtv.com/sports
Or entertainment;
"Enjoy 10 live channels and catch-up missed episodes, from Sky Atlantic to Comedy Central"
http://www.nowtv.com/entertainment

adouglasmhor

only if you buy the live channels.

VisionMan

adouglasmhor wrote: »

only if you buy the live channels.

The catch up and live TV come bundled together now. They didn't use to be, but Sky changed it to the above. So one does indeed need a TV licence for a Now TV box.