Streaming dongle v TV package

2 Posts

My TV and broadband package with BT is about to run out. I don’t watch much TV, about 5 hrs a month, dramas, documentaries and films mostly. I almost always watch these on catchup apps. There is sometimes something on Sky which I would like to watch but can’t access. I’ve been told that if I buy a streaming dongle, Firestick or similar, I won’t need to have a TV package and it will work out cheaper even if I have to pay for content. Is this right?
Ive also been told you can get an app for the dongle which will make it record, pause and playback and another so you can mirror content from your iPad to TV. Are these easy to use?
Ive also been told you can get an app for the dongle which will make it record, pause and playback and another so you can mirror content from your iPad to TV. Are these easy to use?
In other words, what are the advantages of a TV package over a streaming dongle?
Id be very grateful for some quick advice as my contract runs out in 10 days.
Thanks very much
Id be very grateful for some quick advice as my contract runs out in 10 days.
Thanks very much
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You'll need a Broadband contract to replace BT (which is usually more expensive than average). Now TV broadband is okay, in my experience, and tends to be at the cheaper end, starting from £18/month. There don't seem to be any bundles on offer at the moment of Broadband + TV. You can have Now TV with any broadband provider.
You'll need a Smart TV or a streaming device to plug into your TV. Streaming generally works on the basis of pause, rewind (and for catch-up) fast-forward. There isn't usually a record capability because the content is generally available from the service whenever you want to watch it.
Further questions:-
- which channel(s) do you want to access?
- what is your current BB package and line speed from BT, is it adequate for streaming?
- do you have a Smart TV?
If you want to access one or more Sky channels, then there are only a few ways to do that, of which Now TV is probably the cheapest option.
If you don't have a Smart TV, then you will need new hardware, and if you want Now TV, again there are only a few ways to do that, the simplest/cheapest of which is the Now TV hardware (either new or second hand). With Now TV, you get free access to BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All4, My5 and UKTV player, and whatever other pay TV you add from the various options with Now TV and Netflix.
Unfortunately, whoever told you that dongles and pay TV were two mutually exclusive things was wrong, and Sky will only be available through some kind of Pay TV option anyway.