Eligible for BT Sport on TV but activation not allowed due to broadband speed?

simzany

I'm a longstanding BT customer. We have unlimited broadband, TV YouView BT and phone line unltd weekend calls(if that makes any difference!)

I can get BT sport via the app on our tablet, great, works fine

Would like it on the TV, does not show on any channels and I couldn't find help in their forums

Rang BT

I was told I am eligible to have it free of charge on my TV as well (yay!)...But as I am only on a copper line need to upgrade to bt infinity internet as copper is not quick enough apparently

Infinity is 39-40 mps and our current speed is 8.5-12 mps , if that is fine for the app to work why is it not for TV?

We currently pay £16.99 pcm which would go up to £23.99 plus a £30 one off charge to set up, and would get new homehub5

Current download speed is fine for us and we are unltd so its not worth it to upgrade just for BT sport on TV.

I do not understand how others I have spoken to (unless they are mistaken) can get it with unltd internet package and we can't. We live in SW12 London btw

If anyone else has had this problem and resolved it without paying for infinity I'd be keen to hear, or any advice if I have been advised rightly or wrongly?

Thanks

simzany

BTW I realise I can buy a Chromecast to send the picture from my tablet to the TV but I would like to be able to access normally through the TV without the need for my tablet if at all possible

Heinz

I get my BT Sport via satellite so don't have first hand experience but I cannot see why 8.5Mb/s is inadequate.

I reckon the 'advisor' was trying to get you to upgrade just to make some commission.

[Deleted User]

Heinz wrote: »

I reckon the 'advisor' was trying to get you to upgrade just to make some commission.

Fibre broadband is now required in order to receive BT Sport. That is all.

Seriously, Fibre is now required for BT Sport, as that content is streamed. BT Sport was available over the air to BT vision or Youview with a card but this is no longer available to new customers.

As you say, BT Sports can be added to an active Sky card or watched on their app.

Heinz

So it's BT being greedy and insisting on fibre for BT Sport rather than allowing ADSL with adequate speed to be used.

simzany

I am BTVision you view and not a new customer by any means, which is why I wondered as I am sure others have it without having bt infinity. Thanks for the advice, seems very strange

pen1

Per BT website:

You may be able to get BT Sport on BT TV with standard BT Broadband if you can’t get Infinity. You can check below whether you can get it

http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/products/get-bt-sport-on-tv

As I understand, this option is only available (in some circumstances) to subscribers who cannot receive a fibre service at their address; and is then subject to line speed (around 6.5Mbps required, apparently) and only available in standard definition.

See article about it at:
http://www.simplifydigital.co.uk/news/articles/2014/05/bt-sport-returns-to-non-fibre-broadband-homes/

If fibre is available at the address, then my understanding is that BT would expect the customer to upgrade and won't make the more restricted "standard definition only" service available.

[Deleted User]

Heinz wrote: »

So it's BT being greedy and insisting on fibre for BT Sport rather than allowing ADSL with adequate speed to be used.

I'm not sure BT would agree the requirement is down to "greed":D

pen1 wrote: »

If fibre is available at the address, then my understanding is that BT would expect the customer to upgrade and won't make the more restricted "standard definition only" service available.

Your "understanding" is correct.

simzany wrote: »

I am BTVision you view and not a new customer by any means,

You are a "new customer" of BT Sport. So not "strange" I'm afraid.

simzany

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

You are a "new customer" of BT Sport. So not "strange" I'm afraid.

Right, "new" by their definition in the sense I haven't been given it on my TV ever I guess....! But I've been a BT customer for years and been watching via the BT Sport app on my tablet for more than a year!

So basically because I didn't ask for it to be activated on my TV before I'm not allowed it now without upgrading as I'm "new"

Bizarre! I'm going to keep plugging away with customer services

Thank you very much for all your kind help people

[Deleted User]

simzany wrote: »

So basically because I didn't ask for it to be activated on my TV before I'm not allowed it now without upgrading as I'm "new"

Correct.
"Strange" and "bizarre" are not words I would use to describe the situation-perhaps frustrating and expensive might be more appropriate?

Since the main point of BT Sport is to drive extra sales of BT services I can't say I'm surprised.

littleboo

Its not just down to speed of the line, you would need multicast for TV, I'm not sure how common that is on ADSL