Anytime+ BIG let down
Had anytime+ now for a couple of weeks. The concept is acceptable as doesnt take long before you can watch anything you download.
However I feel the content isnt great. I currently have Virgin in my spare room and selection of programes on the "Tv on Demand/ Catup TV" is far, far better selection of programes.
Firsty its hardly worth having ITV player on the platform as there is about 15 programes to watch and its all crap.
Why cant the service be more like the virgin service, have picks from the last 7 days programmes. Increase the selection of content?
Also is the service limited to the amount of programmes it can have on it?
Also the Sky Store is a really good idea, but the fact you need to pay for older films when you already pay a considerable amount for Sky Movies?
The EPG needs a complete overhall to make the AT+ much more organised and to increase the content.
Is it just me?
However I feel the content isnt great. I currently have Virgin in my spare room and selection of programes on the "Tv on Demand/ Catup TV" is far, far better selection of programes.
Firsty its hardly worth having ITV player on the platform as there is about 15 programes to watch and its all crap.
Why cant the service be more like the virgin service, have picks from the last 7 days programmes. Increase the selection of content?
Also is the service limited to the amount of programmes it can have on it?
Also the Sky Store is a really good idea, but the fact you need to pay for older films when you already pay a considerable amount for Sky Movies?
The EPG needs a complete overhall to make the AT+ much more organised and to increase the content.
Is it just me?
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Comments
I think you'll find that what was available from Virgin at the same stage of their development of their on-demand service was pretty sparse in the early days compared with now.
As for paying for films, that's OK as long as they really aren't still available free (and commercial break free) anywhere else, and it does allow people without Sky Movies to access them.
Sky Movies only has a certain number of films under licence at any one time. Those are 'free' on Anytime+.
If they don't have a licence, they're rentable on Anytime+ as they would be in Blockbusters.
Ohh didnt realise that.
Think the EPG needs changed to make it a little bit tidier and for the content to be alot better.
Surely Sky could let the channel manage their own content on the service, adverts could fund this or Sky could give them a reduction in their carridge fees.
But only the people who signed up a few weeks ago will get it. After the testing is complete everyone will get it.
iplayer and the full Itvplayer are to be added also once the new epg is completed.
No its unlimited.
everyone with a compatible box will get it.
those with a thomson box definitely won't be getting anything.
This is temporary. ITV Player will evolve into a full catch-up service during the next few months.
Back in the NTL/Telewest days there was still some on demand. We had it back when we signed up to telewest in November 2006
I bought a wifi bridge specifically for Anytime+, hooked it up to my Sky box and was immediately disappointed. Somewhat naively I expected Anytime+ channels like Discovery and History to have a large chunk of the back catalogue of shows like American Chopper and Ice Road Truckers, not 4 episodes of each! And seeing as how Sky have access to HBO's entire back catalogue I was hoping that the Sky Atlantic A+ channel would have some of HBO's older and lesser known content.
I understand the legalities and financial limitations of repeat programming, but you would expect Channels like Discovery, History, Nat Geo, Comedy Central, etc... which own a lot of their content outright, including repeat rights, would want to have a decent catalogue of content.
I wouldn't have expected every episode of every show to be on A+, but the limited programmes and episodes available at the moment is nothing short of pathetic.
What's even more annoying is that Sky are misleadingly promoting what's on Anytime+ like all the programming listed on their site is readily available to view when it's in fact not, and what is available is often limited to a few episodes.
As always, that should improve as time goes on and new contracts are drawn up.
Why though when they can just show them on the proper channel and get advertising revenue?
I hope in future we see a catch up service similar to iPlayer and preferably also a back catalogue of TV Series available (much like 4od).
Also, I'm pleasantly surprised that they don't have adverts in the anytime videos - for those on a limited broadband allowance, this will be helpful!
Although, if it came to it, I'd be fine with adverts if it meant we had a better catch up service and bigger back catalogue!
Is this likely to happen?
Because in the backwards world that broadcasters live in, on demand rights are different to linear broadcast rights.
iPlayer is coming this year, I'd imagine that Channel 4 will want to be onboard with 4OD at some stage too.
Brilliant! It'd be really useful! Hopefully 4OD do join in too. Anytime+ really does seem to have the potential to be a brilliant feature!
So basically Anytime+ is a random (small) collection of stuff. Like the world's worst video rental store. It's also not helped by the lousy UI but that at least seems to be being addressed. I do see a lot of potential in Anytime+. The technology seems to work really well (PQ is excellent) but it's all let down by the content and when it comes to it content is king.
On mine I get the movies in categories:- comedy, action, family, thriller, drama, sci-fi, horror and war & westerns.
I'm sure content will improve over time.
And at best you get about 6 films in thoses categories, you have to go into all to get the full 800 odd movies available, which is next to useless.
I use the free Sky Movies App on my touch if I'm searching for a film to watch, and then goto All on the Sky Box and then search. By the time I've found my film I can't be arsed to watch it with all that faffing about.:cool:
You must be pretty impatient! Although I do agree...the sorting of content needs to be addressed and I'm sure it will be in the new EPG.
Sorry, i meant when you go to ALL movies
You don't have to search through all the movies to find one.......use the genre sections!
You do in ALL movies as there are no sub genre's, Thanks for your tip but i do know how to use it correctly