This topic

NOW TV Buffering

DelicaMan — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 10:25:05 GMT

Not sure if this the correct board but...

About two weeks ago we started to get the odd buffing pause whilst watching NOW TV. Its got steadily worse and last night was almost unwatchable! We even had a warning message a couple of times

It only happens with NOW TV, no other apps have buffering issues. For the record all my LAN is "hard wired" with top quality Cat6 cables and gigabit switches. There's only one switch between the BT Box Pro and the BT router, and no other hardware was operating through the switch. Around the house I can get gigabit data transfer rates.

Hopefully someone can come up with a solution soon because this totally spoiling our TV watching. Thanks.

Re: NOW TV Buffering

Les-Gibson — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 11:22:20 GMT

Do you still get buffering if you watch Now TV on a PC or laptop in the same room?

Re: NOW TV Buffering

DelicaMan — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 11:54:52 GMT

Good idea! I've got a good spec PC already hooked into the AV Receiver. I'll set up Now TV on that and check it out. I'll wait until this evening so I'm also comparing similar timings, thanks.

Re: NOW TV Buffering

DelicaMan — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 23:36:37 GMT

Even worse via Win10 PC. Didn't even get to start viewing 😞

Re: NOW TV Buffering

NigelB72 — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 05:38:28 GMT

I also buffering when trying to watch Episode 4 of Last of Us but only on Last of Us

Re: NOW TV Buffering

StuB71 — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 07:40:22 GMT

I am having the same issue. Trying to watch the last of us streaming and almost unwatchable. Hardwired, BT Full Fibre 500 so not a broadband issue.

This was an issue previously, did a search and there are archived threads, but has restarted seemingly with The Last of Us. Which is the issue BT Box or Now App?

Re: NOW TV Buffering

NigelB72 — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 07:56:44 GMT

@StuB71 it's probably the NowTV servers taking an absolute battering... It happens on Prime as well when The Grand Tour release a new episode.

Re: NOW TV Buffering

DelicaMan — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 09:57:26 GMT

Looks almost certainly server issues. I've just fired up Now TV on my PC and everything is streaming fine. Last night, on the same PC it was a non starter!

I'm surprised we've not seen any complaints on the Now TV forum(s?).

Re: NOW TV Buffering

Les-Gibson — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 12:24:59 GMT

So far so good ......... ish.

Just thought I'd try it for myself on my Windows10 laptop using Microsoft Edge - Fail big style;

Google Chrome, No problem at all.

First (using Edge) I was told that I needed to download an update to the Now TV player which I did and, as stated above, complete failure, I received the same message as posted in message 4.

Then I uninstalled the Now TV player and re-installed it using Chrome, since then everything has been fine regardless of which browser I start viewing with.

I'll check again tonight and see how it goes

Re: NOW TV Buffering

Les-Gibson — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 13:00:45 GMT

I've watched TV on my laptop on and off for a few hours now at different times of the day/evening and so far I've had no buffering issues at all regardless of which browser I start the Now TV app with so I don't think it's a server issue.

Re: NOW TV Buffering

StuB71 — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 13:04:46 GMT

I was watching Netflix through BT last night and exactly the same issue, almost unwatchable.

Re: NOW TV Buffering

Les-Gibson — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 13:23:01 GMT

@StuB71

Have you tried using a PC or laptop instead of the BT box?

I'm also on FF500 and I've had no problems with buffering on my laptop or smart TV but I can't comment on the performance of my BT Pro box because I have no need for it and never use it.

I don't believe it to be a server issue, you could try using a laptop or PC and if that works OK then you know it can only be your box, in which case you could try a factory reset

Re: NOW TV Buffering

Mozza21 — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 22:07:12 GMT

Thank you for posting this, it's almost like I wrote this myself. I have exactly the same setup, Cat 6 cables and one switch between my Fibre broadband and TV.

I'm new to NowTV and the buffering/stuttering issues are the worst I've experienced of any app so far.

Re: NOW TV Buffering

StuB71 — Sat, 11 Mar 2023 06:52:47 GMT

It's not just Now TV for me its any of the apps using the BT Box. I have freezing/buffering issues on Now TV, ITV X, Netflix, Prime. Basically anything that isn't BT. they play fine through the smart TV so it's not the download speed it's the interface through the BT Box.

Re: NOW TV Buffering

Les-Gibson — Sat, 11 Mar 2023 08:39:34 GMT

@StuB71

If you haven't already, try a factory reset, note that this entails more than just switching the box off and on.

How do I reset my BT TV box? | BT Help

Re: NOW TV Buffering

colinreidcr — Sat, 11 Mar 2023 23:10:56 GMT

yeah I get that as well sometimes and when I open up NOWTV it always takes a while to open up the home menu screen and also the shows to become HD but I think thats just because Im stuck on 60mb and it would be better when ever FTTP comes..

Re: NOW TV Buffering

StuB71 — Sun, 12 Mar 2023 10:00:56 GMT

@Les-Gibson

Already done that, all that happened is that I had to re-hide the channels I didn't want to see. The lag/non start still happens but only on the BT box, not on any other system.

Re: NOW TV Buffering

StuB71 — Sun, 12 Mar 2023 10:02:40 GMT

@colin

I have FTTP 500mb makes no difference 🤷‍

Re: NOW TV Buffering

NigelB72 — Sun, 12 Mar 2023 10:07:10 GMT

@StuB71 I watched Jurassic World: Dominion yesterday and had a couple of spots where it buffered or the quality dropped from 1080p to what looked like VHS 🤣. It really is poor that NowTV struggles to deliver a constant stream when everyone else had no issue in pumping out 4K HDR with Atmos over 20-ish mbps... My connection varies between 80mbps and 110mbps and NowTV is the only On-demand service that stutters so, it's definitely a NowTV issue despite them saying otherwise. This buffering happens regardless whether I use Roku or BT TV Youview...

Re: NOW TV Buffering

Anonymous — Sun, 12 Mar 2023 10:49:41 GMT

You have to wonder if there is any connection with Sky moving everything over to Comcast's global technology platform and performance issues on NOW, Glass and Stream?

The latter two have also been filling social media and support forums with similar reports of picture issues.

Teething problems? Lack of capacity? Lack of technical competence? Who knows.

I would be annoyed if I was paying for NOW and this happened, if I was paying for the supposedly premium offering of Glass or Stream, I would be fuming!