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Old 25-12-2016, 12:39
Baz_James
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So I'm minding my own business when an email drops in from Sky telling me that as I'm a broadband subscriber (probably foolish but I just can't be bothered to change ISP) they're giving me a month's Cinema Pass for nowt on Now TV. Ooh, now there's an offer you can't refuse, sez I. I'll fill in that awkward morning gap on Christmas Day with a sneaky viewing of Zootropolis, sez I. Yeah right.

First off the app you're advised to use doesn't work. No matter. There's always the good old-fashioned browser. Old fashioned indeed it turns out. Can't use Chrome. Has to be Internet Explorer. What? I haven't used Internet Explorer since the war (no, not that war!) Oh well, load it up and ... yup ... that doesn't work either. Uninstall Silverlight, it sez. Change a few things, it sez. Reinstall Silverlight, it sez, and Robert's your cousin's father. Or not.

So the hour I should have been watching one of the most highly rated films of the year has been spent instead uselessly trying to make Sky's antiquated software work and failing miserably. So Merry Christmas, Now TV, you b'stards!!!!

PS. I do realise that this is a first world problem and will do penance to the benefit of the third world in due course but oooooooooooooooooooooh it made me mad! Like Christmas isn't miserable enough already! I need !
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Old 25-12-2016, 19:04
Zeropoint1
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The Internet Explorer thing is annoying but it also works with Firefox too.


You can also use consoles like the PS3, PS4, Xbox One and probably 360. Some set top boxes also have a Now TV app.
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Old 26-12-2016, 08:35
ds_reader
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It seems some people are easily challenged by tech... Unable to use a simple app or reg!?!
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Old 26-12-2016, 08:43
mfr
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If you're not a broadband customer there's a Sunday Times offer here. Sky Cinema for free (or £1 if you already have Now TV)

https://www.thetimesoffers.co.uk/nowtv/index.php
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Old 26-12-2016, 08:50
David_Flett1
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It seems some people are easily challenged by tech... Unable to use a simple app or reg!?!
Just as it seems Sky and Amazon wish to challenge a lot of people by not making their services easily available as Netflix does on multiple platforms. May'be I've got it wrong but I thought the whole idea of subscription services was to encourage as many subscribers as possible. An app availble even on a competing platform encourages not dissuades people from subscribing.
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Old 26-12-2016, 09:26
G926
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I got an email offering me a 2 week free pass for Cinema on Now TV. When I applied the pass it charged me £9.99. Looks like lots of people had the same issue.
I had to use online chat, they refunded the £9.99 and gave me 1 month free.
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Old 26-12-2016, 20:22
Baz_James
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It seems some people are easily challenged by tech... Unable to use a simple app or reg!?!
As I was using computers before you were born (in all probability) we'll pretend you didn't say that, shall we? It doesn't work, and no amount of twiddling and fiddling on my end following their instructions or not changes that. In any case, it's supposed to be 'easy' for anyone irrespective of their technical background. So shall we not give them excuses?
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Old 26-12-2016, 21:32
Zeropoint1
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Just as it seems Sky and Amazon wish to challenge a lot of people by not making their services easily available as Netflix does on multiple platforms. May'be I've got it wrong but I thought the whole idea of subscription services was to encourage as many subscribers as possible. An app availble even on a competing platform encourages not dissuades people from subscribing.
Now TV also have a maximum of 4 devices that you can register but only allow one per month even if you free a slot you have to wait until the next month before you can use it! I'm pretty sure in the past you could remove a device and add a new one straight away.

I suspect many of the limitations of Now TV are deliberately placed there by Sky for no other reason than to keep the satellite service more attractive.

I've managed to persuade a few people to ditch Sky's overpriced satellite service and replace it with Freesat +HD and shop around for the Now TV multiple month offers. I've currently got 2 x 6 month Entertainment passes and pay the equivalent of £3.33 per month as opposed to £21 on satellite with no HD or boxsets.

And 720p is still HD no matter what the resident Sky employee / marketing department claims.
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Old 27-12-2016, 06:44
ds_reader
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As I was using computers before you were born (in all probability) we'll pretend you didn't say that, shall we? It doesn't work, and no amount of twiddling and fiddling on my end following their instructions or not changes that. In any case, it's supposed to be 'easy' for anyone irrespective of their technical background. So shall we not give them excuses?
You used ptape input... I only started with pcards!!!!

Must be embarrassing someone with SO much experience failing to use such simple systems, that millions of other far less experienced individuals have used with complete ease!?!
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Old 27-12-2016, 06:53
ds_reader
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Now TV also have a maximum of 4 devices that you can register but only allow one per month even if you free a slot you have to wait until the next month before you can use it! I'm pretty sure in the past you could remove a device and add a new one straight away.
After 4 are registered ... Only 1 change a month is permitted!?!

There are limitations.... that is obvious as it is far more limited product than Sky +HD or Sky Q.... hence the significantly reduced cost!?!
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Old 27-12-2016, 07:08
ds_reader
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An app availble even on a competing platform encourages not dissuades people from subscribing.
Are you referring to BT's block of full Now TV implementation on youview!?!
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Old 27-12-2016, 10:31
David_Flett1
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Are you referring to BT's block of full Now TV implementation on youview!?!
No I am referring to the absurd situation we have with a number of subscription services. If you want to subscribe to Netflix it is almost impossible to find a platform you cannot use their app on whether it be set top boxes, smart TV's, phones, computers etc. With Amazon and yes Now TV some people have to buy another set top box/stick which is another cost.

With regard to BT then I would add them to the list along with Amazon and SKY as I do with Apple. I wonder how people would have reacted if when Apple released itunes they had only allowed it on apple products such as their ipods and OS and didn't allow it to be used on Windows etc? The reason why itunes grew so massively and so quickly was because it changed the way people consumed music and people never even questioned what do I have to buy to access it, it was there and billions were able to use it instantly.

It really is the same princliple, just make apps available for all platforms and allow people to subscribe to services without even having to think about going out and buying something to access it.

I hope that clears that up for you but maybe it's rather self indulgent of me to point this out.
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Old 27-12-2016, 10:34
the-master
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Just as it seems Sky and Amazon wish to challenge a lot of people by not making their services easily available as Netflix does on multiple platforms. May'be I've got it wrong but I thought the whole idea of subscription services was to encourage as many subscribers as possible. An app availble even on a competing platform encourages not dissuades people from subscribing.

I set up my mother's new Roku box yesteday. Now TV connected via wi-fi fine and worked in seconds. Netflix won't conenct and gets error messages under the network settings saying there is no internet connection. I had problems setting up Netflix on mky daughter's tv previously, and had to buy a seperate booster box in the end. Its' Netflix's connection that is crap, not Now TV.
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Old 27-12-2016, 10:39
Colin_London
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Sky are paranoid (probably quite rightly) about security of their content. They tie their services to certain platforms they can make agreements with, presumably so they can blame someone else if the platform gets hacked.
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Old 27-12-2016, 10:41
David_Flett1
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I set up my mother's new Roku box yesteday. Now TV connected via wi-fi fine and worked in seconds. Netflix won't conenct and gets error messages under the network settings saying there is no internet connection. I had problems setting up Netflix on mky daughter's tv previously, and had to buy a seperate booster box in the end. Its' Netflix's connection that is crap, not Now TV.
I use Netflix on an Amazon Fire TV at home or on my youview box in the bedroom on my sons Samsung smart TV when babysitting. My other son uses it on his Nvidia shield and also on a Roku box in his other room or rather his partner does.

I think you will find reading reviews and forums that the Roku boxes are extremely popular and very little comments on people having problems on accessing Netflix through them.
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Old 27-12-2016, 10:52
gomezz
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Are you referring to BT's block of full Now TV implementation on youview!?!
Which isn't full at all. Could not use my Now subscription in it to watch The Ryder Cup coverage.
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Old 27-12-2016, 11:29
the-master
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I use Netflix on an Amazon Fire TV at home or on my youview box in the bedroom on my sons Samsung smart TV when babysitting. My other son uses it on his Nvidia shield and also on a Roku box in his other room or rather his partner does.

I think you will find reading reviews and forums that the Roku boxes are extremely popular and very little comments on people having problems on accessing Netflix through them.
It's not the Roku box per se that is the problem, but the Netflix app on it. As I said in my earlier post, I've had problems previously when connecting to it and can only assume they have a really low band width. Again, as I said, Now TV connected fine so how can it possibly be an interbet/wifi issue as the Netflix troubleshooting said.
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Old 27-12-2016, 11:53
David_Flett1
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It's not the Roku box per se that is the problem, but the Netflix app on it. As I said in my earlier post, I've had problems previously when connecting to it and can only assume they have a really low band width. Again, as I said, Now TV connected fine so how can it possibly be an interbet/wifi issue as the Netflix troubleshooting said.
Sorry you are having a problem with the Netflix app but personally haven't found a problem on a number of platforms I or family and friends use. As regard broadband they my brother-in-law lives in a village and has poor broadband, struggles to get much above 3-5 he uses the Roku 2 we have been talking about The Crown on Netflix but they're over today I'll ask him if he struggles. My son uses the Roku 3 in their other room but he has BT infinity and no broadband problems. Try doing a reset and re-installing the Netflix app.
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Old 27-12-2016, 12:01
omnidirectional
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Sky really need to move away from Silverlight for the desktop versions of Now TV/Sky Go. Chrome and Microsoft Edge no longer support it and Firefox will drop it by March, having already disabled support by default.

Netflix and Amazon 'just work' but Now TV and Sky Go still require you to use an old browser and obsolete plug-in.
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