[Carbonara]

I'm currently looking at my options when I move to upgrade from my basic £20 freeview box and TV and there's a few things I can't work out from looking at BT TV and Talk Talk TV.

Maybe I'm missing something but what neither website is explaining to me in any detail is what you get for your subscription to either's basic TV packages. From what I can see they're both just youview (which in itself is just freeview with all 4 catchup and on demand players built in). This service is free if you either buy a Freeview box and access the on demand players via a Smart TV or similar device or if you just buy a Youview box on it's own. So I'm failing to see what you're paying a subscription for. I understand both services allow for addons etc but for the basic service it just appears that it's Freeview that you have to pay for. What am I missing here?

I understand also that you are getting the box "free" (actually for a connection fee of £50) so you're saving £200 on the cost of a Youview box but is that it?

[iiyama17]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carbonara

I'm currently looking at my options when I move to upgrade from my basic £20 freeview box and TV and there's a few things I can't work out from looking at BT TV and Talk Talk TV.

Maybe I'm missing something but what neither website is explaining to me in any detail is what you get for your subscription to either's basic TV packages. From what I can see they're both just youview (which in itself is just freeview with all 4 catchup and on demand players built in). This service is free if you either buy a Freeview box and access the on demand players via a Smart TV or similar device or if you just buy a Youview box on it's own. So I'm failing to see what you're paying a subscription for. I understand both services allow for addons etc but for the basic service it just appears that it's Freeview that you have to pay for. What am I missing here?

I understand also that you are getting the box "free" (actually for a connection fee of £50) so you're saving £200 on the cost of a Youview box but is that it?

BT TV Essentials at £5pm is nothing more than the bog standard Freeview channels and a gateway giving you access to additional PAYG programming.

I view the £5 pm I pay as a sort of 'rental' for the Youview box which I'll stop once I'm out of contract unless I've taken some other BTTV programming package. Effectively the Youview box will have cost me £110 but that's still much cheaper than buying one retail.

[Carbonara]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iiyama17

BT TV Essentials at £5pm is nothing more than the bog standard Freeview channels and a gateway giving you access to additional PAYG programming.

I view the £5 pm I pay as a sort of 'rental' for the Youview box which I'll stop once I'm out of contract unless I've taken some other BTTV programming package. Effectively the Youview box will have cost me £110 but that's still much cheaper than buying one retail.

Yeah, that makes sense. So the box supposedly continues to function as a regular youview box once you cancel the subscription? It's just a cheaper way of getting the equipment, much like a mobile phone contract.

The Talk Talk basic TV package is £9 a month, I'm guessing this is the same as the BT TV Essentials but with extra on demand box sets etc that BT offer as an add on?

[infinidim]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carbonara

Yeah, that makes sense. So the box supposedly continues to function as a regular youview box once you cancel the subscription? It's just a cheaper way of getting the equipment, much like a mobile phone contract.

The Talk Talk basic TV package is £9 a month, I'm guessing this is the same as the BT TV Essentials but with extra on demand box sets etc that BT offer as an add on?

That's the way I understand it - someone on the forum correct me if I am wrong.

Infinidim

[soulboy77]

Yes, Essentials/Basic = Freeview + PSB on demand players + pay-to-view films & box sets + the odd freebie (of not much cop) to watch.