BT Launches Streaming Only Option for Freeview channels
This seems to have slipped under the radar. Interesting that internet channels will be recordable for those who crave hoarding content.
https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2022/08/26/bt-launches-streaming-only-option-for-freeview-channels/
https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2022/08/26/bt-launches-streaming-only-option-for-freeview-channels/
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I’m not sure which radar this slipped under;
was it this one:-
https://community.youview.com/youview/discussion/7606997/bt-tv-box-pro-software-update-4-0-222-0-6-18
or this one?
https://community.youview.com/youview/discussion/7606998/bt-tv-box-mini-launch-software-release-4-0-224-0-2-174
Not for those that that still have the older Youview PVR boxes but I good for people who cant get the all the Freeview channels.
I cancelled BT TV 6 months ago but would not have got the Freeview IP channels anyway with not having a pro box.
I happy that I now getting Now direct from them with discounts.
The Pro box and the new Mini…
It only works if you have a active BT tv account.
Anyone thinking of buying a pro box from e Bay to enjoy youview antenna free be advised it won't work.
Everytime you select a program from the TV Guide it just gives you a error code with a message saying we're having trouble locating your bt tv account.
I didn’t interpret what @kodikid said as that; I think he can get it on neither, just as those of us with a YouView box on BT internet, but not subscribing to BT TV, can’t get the BT-provided channels.
But a person with two Pro boxes who can get it on one but not the other would be like a person with two YouView boxes and BT TV but not Multiroom, where the same thing applies to the BT-provided channels.
In effect, this Freeview over the internet is an extension of the BT-provided channels to cover the Freeview ones also.
Without the ariel present you're immediately given the option before you continue of antenna or Internet set up.
Just choose Internet and set it up.
On discovering it wouldn't work I just simply put the aerial back in and set it up again.
Youview is a free terrestrial service no matter what BT do, but channels over the Internet are the domain of BT and they can and will charge you for this service.
Though BT might well argue that they aren’t charging for the Freeview channels over the internet, because they haven’t put their BT TV prices up to cover this.
There might well be some rumblings from Freeview otherwise.
Ha Ha.
I fixed that.
So, would you like to get your Rox off? 😛
One thing I’m intrigued about, which you can probably test if you can get the BT internet-only EPG, even if you can go no further; does it only include channels otherwise available over Players? Or does it offer some channels that aren’t on Players at all?
"The streaming option will give access to the main Freeview channels from the UK’s public service broadcasters, and a range of other channels, but will not include all the channels currently available over the air on Freeview."
So disgruntlement also from those whose services are not available?
Bizarrely at the moment is certainly quality over quantity as nearly all the offerings are in HD (including BBC news)
If you didn't have an antenna it's certainly watchable if you could get it with all the usual suspects present.
At the mo BT are offering it's entertainment package with now entertainment and Netflix for £9 with a 24 month subscription.
Personally not tempted but it's a bloody good offer.
To get the provided Freeview channels over the internet one needs a BT TV account. So, no account, no channels.
But also I understand that in Antenna mode, or on the older BT boxes, some of the BT channels are still delivered via internet and can be recorded alongside the standard Freeview channels over the air.
In my head a hybrid/best of both option would be to take over the air channels where available and fallback to internet delivery for those additional HD versions or where the reception is poor.
Plus it makes BT tv more attractive to those without a aerial or can't get a good signal.
I know when I set it up it was clearly one or the other, it could be having the option of allowing both is byond the pro's capability at the moment.
At the moment switching from aerial to Internet is only possible when you originally set up the box and not as a personal preference where you can hop from one to another.
I thought you were right earlier when you said BT TV account, and @Visionman was right when he said it, even if he was a bit late to the party.
But I don’t think a BT account, without BT TV, is enough?
The problem with having the Freeview channels both over an aerial and over the internet is that you would need two sets of numbers, and the HD versions/channel strength rules for working with one set of numbers would be a nightmare to program and maintain.
@kodikid
I believe @Stephen told us that it’s possible to go between Aerial and Internet mode with a Maintenance Mode 2, so the box can maintain and preserve the one when you switch to the other; but YouView and BT aren’t publicising this because it brings up a few odd corner cases which we old hands could take in our stride, but which ordinary users might balk at, and get confused by.
(Much like the rules for when you can and can’t record two programmes and watch a third on the pre-Pro boxes, a Mux thing that YouView don’t go into lest it makes people’s brains hurt).
I take your point, but it's a start.
And that such broadband, fast enough to make TV over the internet practical, will by then be available everywhere that terrestrial TV is currently available?