Netflix, Amazon, other, in place of iPlayer?

[Deleted User]

I'm binging Netflix's Stranger Things now. It's like a mix of The Goonies, Stand by me and ET. It channels a lot of Stephen King and Steven Spielberg. The last thing I saw that was similar was Super 8.

But... Mr Robot season 2 is on Amazon.

I'm going to say: Sign up for both for a month and see what you like.

Marvqn1

You mentioned you're interested in comedy and drama. UKTV Play has a lot of programmes in these genres on their free on-demand catch-up service.

There is also the BBC Store. They have new programmes and also older programmes, which cost about £1.89 per episode.

gingercordial

I think there are two different types of "Now TV" being referred to in this thread.

There is a Now TV box which is like a Freeview box which plugs into the TV set. This is then used to access all kinds of online content including the BBC iPlayer, Channel 4 etc, and like Freeview would need a licence because it can access the BBC content.

A different thing entirely is a Now TV subscription which is exactly like Netflix or Amazon. I don't have a TV but I subscribe monthly to this and can only watch Now TV's own content (usually from Sky) via the Now TV app/website. There is no access to BBC iPlayer content through this app/website. In terms of the monthly model, app and kind of content it is just like Netflix, but with some different shows eg Game of Thrones.

TV Licencing themselves say that no licence is needed for the latter.

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/bbc-iplayer-and-the-tv-licence?wt.mc_id=r118

You won't need a licence to:
(1) Download or watch S4C TV on demand on BBC iPlayer or listen to radio on BBC iPlayer.
(2) Download or watch programmes on demand from other providers, such as:
ITV Hub, All 4 or Demand 5
BT Vision, Virgin Media or Sky Go
Netflix or Now TV
Apple, Roku or Amazon

[Deleted User]

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Netflix has the benefit of allowing 'per month' subscriptions. You don't need to sign up for a whole year.

I pay for both - and actually find some of the best content is that produced by Netflix or Amazon themselves. Technically, Amazon is very good since you can download to a portable device, while you can't (yet) with Netflix.

You may also need to be choose depending on the device you want to watch this on. Amazon video can require a Fire TV/Stick to watch it on a big screen.

If I had to choose, I'd keep Amazon over Netflix - but mainly because I get a bunch of other services for my £79 a year - I get their music service and free deliveries, which I use quite a lot. BUT.. it does try to make you spend a bit of extra money on all the videos that aren't free. At least with Netflix, what you see is what you get.

If not using a laptop for Netflix, Prime etc all are setup on the XBOX in the livingroom.

Still have an older [Roku] NowTV box but to be honest its pretty crap being so sluggish when compared to the XBOX. Also the NowTV box can barely run the iPlayer app.

Guess I'll shortly be uninstalling the BBC app from all our devices at some point...

The_Groat_Counter

VisionMan wrote: »

There would be little point in buying a Now TV box if one won't watch the live TV channels. Its mainly a live streamer, as well as offering on demand. TV Licence required.

Sorry but that's nonsense. Apart from the sport, NOW TV is overwhelmingly marketed as an on-demand service.

The_Groat_Counter

What TV Licensing say about needing a licence...

Do I need a TV Licence if don't use a TV?

No matter what device you use, you must be covered by a TV Licence if you watch or record live TV. This includes:

• TV sets
• Laptops and desktop computers
• Tablets, mobile phones, satnavs and other portable devices
• Digital boxes (PVRs), satellite and cable, e.g. Freeview, Freesat, Sky, Virgin Media, BT Vision, YouView, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku and Amazon Fire TV
• Games consoles
• DVD, Blu-ray and VHS recorders

My underlining. Therefore it follows that, if from September onwards you only watch non-BBC on demand services, you won't need a licence.

Cornucopia

Indeed, there's a fair bit of nonsense on this thread, mainly on page 1.

- The Licence covers watching and recording TV broadcasts.

- The Licence is not a Licence to own or install any items of equipment.

- No one needs to inform TVL that they have purchased or installed any item of equipment. They have no right to know, and they probably don't even have a process for dealing with the information.

- Now TV (both the box and the service), like every device or platform that could possibly receive live TV broadcasts, but also do various unlicenceable things as well, highlight the inadequacy of the TVL system and the BBC/TVL approach in the face of new technologies. It includes (live) broadcast content, and watching that content requires a Licence. However, short of you confessing to watching it, there isn't a great deal they can do (legally or practically).

- Where the Now TV help page talks about informing TV Licensing that a Licence is not required, it is simply covering its "reputation". There is no legal requirement to inform TVL that one is unlicensed. Full stop. (The MSE article makes the same error, unless it has been corrected).

edit: The MSE article says that people who don't need a Licence "can" fill out TVL's online form. Which is a bit of a cop-out, but way better than "must".

VisionMan

Cornucopia wrote: »

Indeed, there's a fair bit of nonsense on this thread, mainly on page 1.

Now TV (both the box and the service) sit in a grey area that highlights the inadequacy of the TVL system and the BBC/TVL approach in the face of new technologies.

How can grey be nonsense?

Cornucopia

"Grey area" probably isn't quite the right term and I've removed it from my post.

The basic issue is that the Licence is for watching/recording TV broadcasts.

It's not FOR anything else (like owning a particular STB) and it's not a compulsion to DO anything else (like asking permission to operate a particular kind of STB).

We don't need any Walter Mitty fantasy TV Licence enforcement from forums like this - the reality is horrifying enough.

VisionMan

I would never try to do that. I gave my honest opinion, that's all.