@iainsw Somebody posted earlier that if you subscribe to BT Sport then you get a BT ID. This gives you access to the BT TV app which includes remote recording.
Just to clarify, YouView has
not been purchased by BT and is still equally owned by BBC, ITV, C4, C5, BT,
Talk Talk and Arqiva.
YouView makes available the functionality for remote
record to our business partners, so that they can integrate into their apps,
which BT has been using on their app for a few years now.
The decision to no
longer support the YouView app is solely reflected of YouView’s five year
strategy which will focus on delivering other features to all YouView business partners.
To reiterate from my post yesterday, we are not removing software support for non-subscription YouView boxes and the non-subscription boxes will not be losing any functionality other than the ability to remotely record via an app.
It does. It seems even stranger that TalkTalk are losing their app though.
@redchiz I think the difference is the TalkTalk app wasn't actually a TalkTalk app, it was just the youView app with a TalkTalk skin. Therefore if YouView withdraw the app the TalkTalk skinned version is lost also. It will need either TalkTalk or Humax to 'host' their own app with the recording facility built in to get this back.
BT's app has always been fundamentally different, hosted and developed 'in house' with many other features (IP channels, BT Player, Purchases etc) with just the mechanics of the remote recording features for the STB built in.
@scott Indeed, but "... YouView makes available the functionality for remote record to our business partners..." and TalkTalk are a partner, so ....? Hence my confusion.
And no mention of Huawei in all this, who of course supply TalkTalk boxes.
@scott Indeed, but "... YouView makes available the functionality for remote record to our business partners..." and TalkTalk are a partner, so ....? Hence my confusion.
And no mention of Huawei in all this, who of course supply TalkTalk boxes.
So as I have said if TalkTalk build their own app and host it themselves they can incorporate the Remote record functionality from YouView into it and it will work fine. Obviously there is a cost to this and one I can't see TalkTalk spending, but who knows.
Same for Huawei and Humax but as they don't take any 'ongoing' payments only the one off cost of the box I can't see them rushing especially as the last retail boxes they made are over 5 years old.
Yes, but to quote more fully what Sarah said: "YouView makes available the functionality for remote record to our business partners, so that they can integrate into their apps, which BT has been using on their app for a few years now."
If you look at the BT TV app (if you can) you will see it is a composite, with options for access direct via mobile device to their own content. But the guide/planner part is straight from the YouView model.
Similar but different. Look at the channel numbers (you can't get them in the YouView TV guide app). Look at the date format (different corners). It uses the mechanics from YouView but works over its own infrastructure embedded in its own app (not just skinned).
No, basically she is saying you can embed the code into your app and the functionality will work but we won’t provide the whole app for you anymore. It is up to talktalk to produce a fully functioning app and embed the functionality for remote recording into it (as BT have done) but talktalk have always just done things the cheapest way and I can’t see them spending money producing their own whole app. All they have done up to now is skin YouViews app.
TalkTalk do have their own app, but with a somewhat different approach. Why they cannot integrate the full guide/planner into that may be an apposite question as it happens.
I don’t use BT tv but do have an eBay BT box. This does authenticate and link to the BT app so ok. However the BT app is a confusing mess of stuff that I don’t want or need.
@redchiz and @scott I think I get all that. But I wonder what in real terms it would have cost YouView to provide the current resources for the TalkTalk app and the current YouView app to continue? I'm still going with my conspiracy theory that BT wanted to get one up on the competition - TalkTalk, retail, (and Plusnet - sort of), and persuaded YouView to go along with this.
Unfortunately it seems the BTTV app only works with BTTV subscribers. I had half hoped as a BT fibre customer I might be able to use my BT ID to use their app, but no such luck. Don't fancy another subscription to TV so looks like no remote recording for me, until Humax decide to make a new app.
I'm glad to hear that the public broadcasters are still involved with Youview. Whilst I'm here @Sarah, my retail bought Youview box T2000 has been rebranded a BTTV box since swapping to them as my internet supplier. Its an ugly branding which I really dislike for a few reasons. I've no wish to subscribe to their TV packages.
As it appears Youview are changing policy and are stepping back, to allow individual maufacturers a more prominent role in promoting their products, will this mean the end of BT branding on retail Humax boxes in situations such as mine? Surely Humax aren't too happy to see the identity of their shop sold products changed by a competitor over the internet?
More likely the end of selling of Youview boxes direct to the consumer...
You're not the only one with that thought:
"The big question now is whether or not their move away from “direct to consumer” products will eventually also result in Youview ceasing to serve the retail market with set-top-box devices too (excluding their ISP partners of course)."
I wouldn't read too much into this. Fact one the youview box is unparalleled in the pvr market, no box ( yes talking about you Manhattan) has the apps youview has, it has the lot ,Netflix, Prime and in march full now and s**xbox. Fact 2 BT want the remote app for their pay tv. Fair enough, but if they think youview retail will flock to BT tv to regain it then big mistake.
Sadly there's no point or need for youview and freeview play to exist in tandem. Freeview play looks like becoming the default for non subscription tv. Youview will eventually evolve into BT tv. Only hope is freeview develops it's own remote app.
The App is going because YouView is allegedly transitioning to a B2B2C model, where YouView is the first B, and the ISPs are the second B and we independent users are no longer customers of YouView. And even those of us whose ISP is one of the second Bs are not customers, unless we subscribe to our ISP’s TV service.
But of even those who are, PlusNet and TalkTalk subscribers are going to get shafted over the App, as they won’t have one to use either.
Behind the scenes, at a guess, TalkTalk were offered the infrastructure behind the App, since the TalkTalk App is just a skin on the YouView App, but declined to take it on, even just for TalkTalk customers, let alone all us retail users.
And BT will decline to open up their, independent, version of the App to us. Even, perhaps, to the owners of BT Retail boxes, who are likewise going to get shafted over this if not.
But YouView is, apparently, going to keep the Community. Why? While nominally a C2C thing, it’s always been B2C as well (and all the better for it). But YouView aren’t going to be B2C any more, they say, in the rationale for ceasing the App.
So why B2C over the Community? Are they implying that the BT TV and TalkTalk Communities won’t cope? Or that they might, but it would cut YouView off from a valuable source of information? Which, presumably, if this is a reason for things, means that YouView glean nothing from the App usage? Can you believe that?
Because if YouView did analyse the results, then they would know that even people watching YouView use the App, while actively watching an earlier programme, or a recording. Because you can do it on the App without having to interrupt the running programme to set recordings there.
Fact is, that the main way I use the App, and now I’m going to lose that. Along with being able to use the TalkTalk app to control a second YouView box, on this same iPad. Now, even anyone with the BT App will need as many devices as they have YouView boxes to set things up.
Or maybe YouView are hoping that, having strayed so far from their original remit and now proposing to stray even further, that the Community will be a figleaf to stave off any sanctions from OfCom?
Does not compute, as they say.
What else does not compute is what YouView’s future plans are in this B2B2C model.
I would expect that to mean:-
No more Community;
No more retail T2000s sold, or allowed to be sold, by Humax;
No more updates for YouView Retail boxes, whether from YouView or from the partners, e.g. the catchup players;
Withdrawal of other services, e.g. the enhanced metadata that accompanies the EPG;
So I would like it, @Sarah, if YouView would clarify what services they will and won’t be providing to Retail box owners in the future.
My guess is they will have to keep enough services going to make singling out the App for cessation look decidedly odd.
Which, together with all the mealy-mouthed corporate-speak about the reasons for this decision, make me wonder if they are the real reasons at all, and there is something else altogether going on.
My wife’s suitably cynical response is ‘follow the money’, a trail that leads straight to BT’s door, but what their motives here might be, I have no idea. Just being a dog in the manger? Or to have their rival YouView Retail and TalkTalk streams crippled by the loss of the App, even at the cost of their own BT Retail stream suffering similar collateral damage? It seems unlikely, but.....
However, for me, although YouView was, and still is, unique in what it does, I am using my boxes less and less; and despite growing and extending what the boxes can do, it has still been a constant disappointment to me for the all things it could have done and didn’t, or did do, but did badly.
Time for a new TV later this year (and whatever it is, it will *not* be a Sony, with the sorry truncated YouView-in-name-only which is all it can support).
And maybe time for a rethink on what box sits under it?
‘Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful’ Wm Morris
@Roy Theres nothing out there that really stands out, or indeed matches a YouView for speed and reliability. The Manhatton looks interesting but it would really all depend on what you want. I don't know and couldn't possibly guess what the long-term future of YouView Retail and its box availability (or not) will be and confirmation from @Sarah would be appreciated in this.
As for YouView Retail's future in the short to medium term, I can confirm whats already been said by Sarah and there is a lot going on in the background, with future new features and apps being worked on for release as-and-when. One of them already being in the public domain, Britbox. I suppose at the end of the day, public clarification is required from YouView regarding its Retail arms future and what, if anything, is going to happen in regard to the availability of its boxes.
Cheers VM
I'm now happy with the disagree icon, because its gone.
The BT app is for BTTV subscribers only. I'm quite shocked by that, as one would have thought ones BT fibre ID would suffice, but no. They are only allowing TV subbers to use it.
Its also a surprise theres no longer a TalkTalk app, but that would be a TalkTalk business decision as they aren't beholden to YouView. But the app would cost money to maintain which they clearly don't want to pay.
I'm now happy with the disagree icon, because its gone.
So this is probably a stupid question - if you are a BT customer, but NOT a BT TV customer, I’m guessing you can’t use the BT TV App?
I’m disgusted by the news as I use the App quite a bit, why no replacement App for retail bought owners?
You’re right. I’m a BT fibre customer. As a retail Youview user I’m unable to use the BTtv app, despite having BT User ID.
You need to subscribe to their tv as well.
I feel that’s a little ungracious as I’ve had the BTtv branding forced on my retail bought Youview box since changing isp, the least they could do would be to allow us to access the tv planner app.
Comments
Hi all,
Just to clarify, YouView has not been purchased by BT and is still equally owned by BBC, ITV, C4, C5, BT, Talk Talk and Arqiva.
YouView makes available the functionality for remote record to our business partners, so that they can integrate into their apps, which BT has been using on their app for a few years now.
The decision to no longer support the YouView app is solely reflected of YouView’s five year strategy which will focus on delivering other features to all YouView business partners.
To reiterate from my post yesterday, we are not removing software support for non-subscription YouView boxes and the non-subscription boxes will not be losing any functionality other than the ability to remotely record via an app.
Thanks,
Sarah
@redchiz I think the difference is the TalkTalk app wasn't actually a TalkTalk app, it was just the youView app with a TalkTalk skin. Therefore if YouView withdraw the app the TalkTalk skinned version is lost also. It will need either TalkTalk or Humax to 'host' their own app with the recording facility built in to get this back.
BT's app has always been fundamentally different, hosted and developed 'in house' with many other features (IP channels, BT Player, Purchases etc) with just the mechanics of the remote recording features for the STB built in.
And no mention of Huawei in all this, who of course supply TalkTalk boxes.
So as I have said if TalkTalk build their own app and host it themselves they can incorporate the Remote record functionality from YouView into it and it will work fine. Obviously there is a cost to this and one I can't see TalkTalk spending, but who knows.
Same for Huawei and Humax but as they don't take any 'ongoing' payments only the one off cost of the box I can't see them rushing especially as the last retail boxes they made are over 5 years old.
If you look at the BT TV app (if you can) you will see it is a composite, with options for access direct via mobile device to their own content. But the guide/planner part is straight from the YouView model.
But I wonder what in real terms it would have cost YouView to provide the current resources for the TalkTalk app and the current YouView app to continue?
I'm still going with my conspiracy theory that BT wanted to get one up on the competition - TalkTalk, retail, (and Plusnet - sort of), and persuaded YouView to go along with this.
As it appears Youview are changing policy and are stepping back, to allow individual maufacturers a more prominent role in promoting their products, will this mean the end of BT branding on retail Humax boxes in situations such as mine? Surely Humax aren't too happy to see the identity of their shop sold products changed by a competitor over the internet?
"The big question now is whether or not their move away from “direct to consumer” products will eventually also result in Youview ceasing to serve the retail market with set-top-box devices too (excluding their ISP partners of course)."
https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2020/02/youview-refocus-away-from-direct-to-consumer-iptv-products.html
We may be "drinking in the last chance saloon" LastPintDave
Fact one
the youview box is unparalleled in the pvr market,
no box ( yes talking about you Manhattan) has the apps youview has, it has the lot ,Netflix, Prime and in march full now and s**xbox.
Fact 2
BT want the remote app for their pay tv. Fair enough, but if they think youview retail will flock to BT tv to regain it then big mistake.
Something smells very wrong here.
The App is going because YouView is allegedly transitioning to a B2B2C model, where YouView is the first B, and the ISPs are the second B and we independent users are no longer customers of YouView. And even those of us whose ISP is one of the second Bs are not customers, unless we subscribe to our ISP’s TV service.
But of even those who are, PlusNet and TalkTalk subscribers are going to get shafted over the App, as they won’t have one to use either.
Behind the scenes, at a guess, TalkTalk were offered the infrastructure behind the App, since the TalkTalk App is just a skin on the YouView App, but declined to take it on, even just for TalkTalk customers, let alone all us retail users.
And BT will decline to open up their, independent, version of the App to us. Even, perhaps, to the owners of BT Retail boxes, who are likewise going to get shafted over this if not.
But YouView is, apparently, going to keep the Community. Why? While nominally a C2C thing, it’s always been B2C as well (and all the better for it). But YouView aren’t going to be B2C any more, they say, in the rationale for ceasing the App.
So why B2C over the Community? Are they implying that the BT TV and TalkTalk Communities won’t cope? Or that they might, but it would cut YouView off from a valuable source of information? Which, presumably, if this is a reason for things, means that YouView glean nothing from the App usage? Can you believe that?
Because if YouView did analyse the results, then they would know that even people watching YouView use the App, while actively watching an earlier programme, or a recording. Because you can do it on the App without having to interrupt the running programme to set recordings there.
Fact is, that the main way I use the App, and now I’m going to lose that. Along with being able to use the TalkTalk app to control a second YouView box, on this same iPad. Now, even anyone with the BT App will need as many devices as they have YouView boxes to set things up.
Or maybe YouView are hoping that, having strayed so far from their original remit and now proposing to stray even further, that the Community will be a figleaf to stave off any sanctions from OfCom?
Does not compute, as they say.
What else does not compute is what YouView’s future plans are in this B2B2C model.
I would expect that to mean:-
No more Community;
No more retail T2000s sold, or allowed to be sold, by Humax;
No more updates for YouView Retail boxes, whether from YouView or from the partners, e.g. the catchup players;
Withdrawal of other services, e.g. the enhanced metadata that accompanies the EPG;
So I would like it, @Sarah, if YouView would clarify what services they will and won’t be providing to Retail box owners in the future.
My guess is they will have to keep enough services going to make singling out the App for cessation look decidedly odd.
Which, together with all the mealy-mouthed corporate-speak about the reasons for this decision, make me wonder if they are the real reasons at all, and there is something else altogether going on.
My wife’s suitably cynical response is ‘follow the money’, a trail that leads straight to BT’s door, but what their motives here might be, I have no idea. Just being a dog in the manger? Or to have their rival YouView Retail and TalkTalk streams crippled by the loss of the App, even at the cost of their own BT Retail stream suffering similar collateral damage? It seems unlikely, but.....
However, for me, although YouView was, and still is, unique in what it does, I am using my boxes less and less; and despite growing and extending what the boxes can do, it has still been a constant disappointment to me for the all things it could have done and didn’t, or did do, but did badly.
Time for a new TV later this year (and whatever it is, it will *not* be a Sony, with the sorry truncated YouView-in-name-only which is all it can support).
And maybe time for a rethink on what box sits under it?
Theres nothing out there that really stands out, or indeed matches a YouView for speed and reliability. The Manhatton looks interesting but it would really all depend on what you want. I don't know and couldn't possibly guess what the long-term future of YouView Retail and its box availability (or not) will be and confirmation from @Sarah would be appreciated in this.
As for YouView Retail's future in the short to medium term, I can confirm whats already been said by Sarah and there is a lot going on in the background, with future new features and apps being worked on for release as-and-when. One of them already being in the public domain, Britbox. I suppose at the end of the day, public clarification is required from YouView regarding its Retail arms future and what, if anything, is going to happen in regard to the availability of its boxes.
Cheers
VM
Its also a surprise theres no longer a TalkTalk app, but that would be a TalkTalk business decision as they aren't beholden to YouView. But the app would cost money to maintain which they clearly don't want to pay.