This topic

BTTV seems quite poor value?

Crimliar — Thu, 11 May 2023 16:32:19 GMT

So I'm new to BT Broadband, and I keep seeing info telling me how great BTTV is. But when I look at the packages, once you are out of the initial "offer" period then BTTV seems expensive and not as flexible as just having individual subscriptions. It just seems odd that a value package doesn't seem to be particularly good value.

Re: BTTV seems quite poor value?

Anonymous — Thu, 11 May 2023 16:47:07 GMT

I concur, but it does have it's fans.

Simply put, it is Freeview + some apps (not all), with the advantage of being able to record content from NOW TV and watch a selection of broadcast channels without an aerial (with some extras in HD compared to standard Freeview), if that is important to you.

The majority of which is attainable for much less and without a contract, apart from the NOW TV recording. Each to their own though.

Edited to add:

This is of course the current version of BT TV, they may have significant changes planned once it becomes EE TV as part of a wider move to use that as the main consumer brand.

Re: BTTV seems quite poor value?

StuartHK — Thu, 11 May 2023 19:52:45 GMT

I'm inclined to agree with you both. It's gone downhill over recent years, to the point where I'm wondering what exactly I'm paying for. A lot of the more interesting channels seem to have been discontinued. About the only thing worthwhile is the Netflix subscription & it would probably be cheaper to junk BTTV and get that that separately.

Re: BTTV seems quite poor value?

Anonymous — Thu, 11 May 2023 20:59:12 GMT

Have to agree with this. BT have certainly gone down hill. My contract ends in August so I will wait to see what arrives with the EE TV re brand and with the TNT Sports. Otherwise a move away will be tempting with a much cheaper deal all round.

Re: BTTV seems quite poor value?

Weerab1983 — Fri, 12 May 2023 07:31:05 GMT

I've got sky stream downstairs and took advantage of the recent deals to get a BT TV Pro with Entertainment for the spare room (remember it's Sky channels through Now, which can be more expensive with Sky Q) so I can watch my own TV with a box with a hard drive in it and my other half can watch her own stuff.

It is the cheapest subscription TV with premium channels, in the market with a recordable box I believe. I don't have Virgin in my area, and I make good use of it.

I do believe that it will get better when EE take over that part of the business and I hope that they are holding out on any further announcements until that transfer has been completed.

Re: BTTV seems quite poor value?

alan_mc — Fri, 12 May 2023 09:02:13 GMT

I have Big Sport with Netflix Premium bump and the HD add on as thats all I need. If I try to build a similar package with Sky Stream, it always works out more expensive with the only plus is you get some of the sky sports channels in UHD. BTTV still has the better value for me.

Re: BTTV seems quite poor value?

ney — Fri, 12 May 2023 09:26:46 GMT

Canceled BT TV almost 16 months ago and I now making a small saving getting almost the same package direct from Now with discounts.

I did for the first few weeks miss not being able to record the Now channels but now dont miss that at all. As 90% of shows that I watch are on demand/catch up and two of my TV shows have since moved to Disney+.
Also BT made me an ok offer to renew my BT FTTC back in January 2 months before my contract was due to end but decided to wait to see if I could get an even better offer and then nearer the time BT changed their offer and it was not as good.
So I ended up moving provides for a similar FTTC package and I now making g a few pounds saving there for the next 16 months.

I have looked at getting Sky Steam but for now I happy having the Now service with discounts.

Re: BTTV seems quite poor value?

Crimliar — Fri, 12 May 2023 10:15:43 GMT

I guess it's paying for the record facility, but the last time I used the PVR/BlueRay combo I have for that was probably 5+ years ago. We're usually using catch-up, have one permanent subscription and rotate between Netflix, Disney+, Paramount+, Amazon Prime, and occasionally NOW, Shudder(AMC), or Hulu for specific content. We always have at least two subs on the go, but never more than 3 - we're not big TV watchers no more (often less) than 90 minutes per night together, and maybe a film or two extra at the weekend.

We could quite easily drop the live TV and its associated license fee for probably 1/2 the year. Giving up live TV is made easier by the fact that we are supposedly served by the Bilsdale Transmitter (burnt down in August 2021) the replacement for which has been due online any day for the last 6 months, and the temporary fix is patchy!

Re: BTTV seems quite poor value?

Hooba — Fri, 12 May 2023 10:37:44 GMT

After factoring in the Netflix discount I'm paying £66 a month for all the Sky entertainment, movie, and sports channels with Boost included, plus BT Sport UHD. All recordable (although I only ever record some sport, and a couple of Channel 4 programmes). Plus I don't need an arial or a sat dish. BT's IP TV (multi cast) is as I understand it far superior to Sky Stream. The ability to switch packages once a month without any hassle is pretty attractive too - as is the ability to access all live and on demand content on a myriad of other devices (so that, in effect, is multi-room included in the £66).

I guess it depends on what you want to watch, and how you want to be able to watch it. But for me it's a good value proposition. I'm not sure where else will offer me better value.

Re: BTTV seems quite poor value?

scharter — Fri, 12 May 2023 10:47:00 GMT

@alan_mc I have exactly the same package. I used to have big Entertainment, but found I wasn't watching half or more of the channels. Big Sport with HD fits me perfectly, and works out cheaper than any other provider, because I don't want all the entertaiment channels you are forced to buy before haing add-ons.

Re: BTTV seems quite poor value?

garybs29 — Fri, 12 May 2023 10:54:58 GMT

So already it's beginning to look like it's poor value for only entertainment etc but much better value for sport, just shows you a catch all "poor value" can't be used for the product

Re: BTTV seems quite poor value?

Anonymous — Fri, 12 May 2023 11:25:11 GMT

It can when you can get all that same content without a contract for less, as Sky are starting to find out.

The only advantage with regards to Sport through BT is the ability to record.

I have a NOW Sports pass, Boost and the BT Sport app which I watch though Apple TV. Current total cost is £36, no contract.

I can add Entertainment and Cinema today for another £10.98 for 6 months, no contract.

At the end of the day, it is what works best for you that matters, but it looks to me like cord cutting has properly arrived in the UK and is here to stay.

Re: BTTV seems quite poor value?

ney — Fri, 12 May 2023 11:47:23 GMT

I dont watch enough sport with in a month to be paying extra for it.

Im more into TV shows/TV box sets and times movies.

I do have Sky Cinema with Now on £2.50 discount till end of June but even Sky Cinema is at times starting to lose out to the likes of Disney+, Netflix and Prime Video. More so Disney+ and going by last much I was lucky if I watched 3 movies on Sky Cinema.

BT very rarely offer any discounts on the Now packages.

If you get the HD add on with BT its at lest £1 extra than getting it from Now direct. As BT add 4k to the HD add on even if some are just happy getting HD or still do not have a 4k TV.

Re: BTTV seems quite poor value?

Hendy2 — Fri, 12 May 2023 15:12:35 GMT

I had it under the old legacy package and then as Now, basically because it wasn’t much more than subscribing to BT Sport through Sky.

I had the half price offer for 6 months, and the £42.95 for Now entertainment, kids, and cinema along with BT Sport with the 4K and HD add on, which I thought wasn’t bad.

But it’s recently gone up to £52.95 a month, and I felt that was toohard to justify so I cancelled the package.

No special offers at all from the sales assistant to persuade me to stay.

Also, with BT Sport merging with TNT sports, the whole future of BT TV is surely very uncertain.

Personally, I think Sky Q is much better. Far more channels, and much better multi room options. Sky Glass / Stream is even better multi room wise, but there’s no recording facility.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens after July and the BT Sport TNT merger.

Re: BTTV seems quite poor value?

Anonymous — Fri, 12 May 2023 17:48:03 GMT

I just looked at offers to change my current big sport to downgrade, I understood you could swap your TV package every month, Now MYBT page only offers package and it means re contracting broadband for another 24months. Think I will pass on that. Also phoned up to see if any deals to reduce current costs and the best offer was a £2.50 saving per month and renew for 24months. Not long until August and end of contract...

Re: BTTV seems quite poor value?

Anonymous — Fri, 12 May 2023 18:02:12 GMT

Two other things I think are a plus for BT:

The multicast network it uses which significantly reduces broadcast delay and
The BT TV Pro box itself

On the second point, I know I have been a critic of it, but that is mostly around how dated YouView feels these days and that there are a few bugs that still haven’t been squished and really should be by now.

But in the main, I did find it nippy and robust, which cannot be said about any of Sky’s recent hardware.

There is a really strong market for BT Pro Boxes on eBay and places like CEX, it’s a decent Freeview PVR.

Re: BTTV seems quite poor value?

BillyM — Fri, 12 May 2023 19:31:26 GMT

@Anonymous if you're wanting to swap your TV package, try clicking on Your Products in MyBT, then clicking on TV and sport

Re: BTTV seems quite poor value?

Anonymous — Fri, 12 May 2023 20:05:52 GMT

@BillyM That's what I did, as I mentioned in my post. It gives options to change but it also renews your broadband for 24months, which I don't wish to do.

Re: BTTV seems quite poor value?

BillyM — Fri, 12 May 2023 21:21:04 GMT

@Anonymous that's a strange one. If you have the time it might be worth calling them. I was on Big Sport package + Entertainment + HD. When the price rise came in I swapped to VIP as it was slightly cheaper than my old package + price increase. I stayed on my current contract (same end date as before).

But I couldn't find anyway of reducing the broadband cost (Full Fibre 100). I'm paying way more than a new customer. Looks like I'll have to wait it out until my contract expires in December.

Re: BTTV seems quite poor value?

Hendy2 — Fri, 12 May 2023 21:30:19 GMT

[quote]There is a really strong market for BT Pro Boxes on eBay and places like CEX, it’s a decent Freeview PVR.[/quote]

Selling the BT TV box pro on eBay or CEX is illegal, surely, since they’re only loaned to the customers and should be returned when they end their contract ?

At least that’s my understanding.

The BT TV box pro gets some really good reviews, but it’s missing some big name apps such as Apple TV, Disney+, and YouTube.

Even the Humax Aura has those.n