This topic

UKTV Channels in IP Mode

tumblingtom — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 22:25:51 GMT

Now the rebrand to EE etc has gone through, is there any news on when or if the UKTV channels (Dave, W etc) will be coming to EETV in IP mode? Or will we have to go with Freeview's IPTV when its lanched this year. This is one of the main issues that is stopping me ditching sky and coming back to BT/EE. I know you can get it through aerial mode but the picture quality is awful and since BT got rid of the HD option it doesnt interest me.

Re: UKTV Channels in IP Mode

SoupDragon57 — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 23:35:19 GMT

@tumblingtom That's the $1 Dollar question, along with the Great TV! channels and Talking Pictures. Sadly, there's never any word on this. We all hoped the launch of EE TV might have this kind of news.

Given the current talk about Channel 4 looking to look remove linear channels and move to streaming, this could be an opportunity to get HD feeds of their other channels.

Also sounds like Sky have signalled the end of Satellite TV in 2028...

Re: UKTV Channels in IP Mode

Weerab1983 — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 08:07:59 GMT

I hope these come sooner rather than later as well.

If they appear on Freely, there is another competitor that puts another dent into the EE service

Re: UKTV Channels in IP Mode

zulu17 — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 19:56:44 GMT

The explanation given (30Aug2022(

We don't offer the UKTV DTT channels in internet mode as we failed to negotiate an acceptable commercial agreement with them. Should they come back to us with something acceptable, we will of course add them.

Re: UKTV Channels in IP Mode

tumblingtom — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 20:00:04 GMT

Well thats basically a customer that wont be coming back. Pure and simple. I am sure I wont be the only one.

Re: UKTV Channels in IP Mode

SoupDragon57 — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 20:15:25 GMT

@zulu17 I heard something similar from one of the mods. Not sure waiting until they come back crawling is a great strategy. You'd hope they were periodically trying... Or perhaps like Freely, the software could be updated to enable standard terrestrial channels to supplement those available via IP.
Otherwise, there's a risk that Freely will make significant inroads...

Re: UKTV Channels in IP Mode

Weerab1983 — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 20:21:12 GMT

I don't think any company that would not return to try and get a better deal for popular channels would last long as being competitive.

Sky Stream, Virgin Stream have them and you would like to think Freely will aswell.

Re: UKTV Channels in IP Mode

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 08:56:32 GMT

@zulu17wrote:
The explanation given (30Aug2022(
We don't offer the UKTV DTT channels in internet mode as we failed to negotiate an acceptable commercial agreement with them. Should they come back to us with something acceptable, we will of course add them.

I remember this thread, the level of chutzpah from a tiny TV platform that needs content deals to grow it's attractiveness and customer base, still makes me laugh today.

Re: UKTV Channels in IP Mode

ney — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 09:27:26 GMT

Dont think I will be back as a customer as well.
I left BT TV as it was called just over 20 months ago and went with Now direct with discounts and I seem to be happy with the service.

Have since also moved from BT FTTC to another isp on a similar FTTC package.

Re: UKTV Channels in IP Mode

Weerab1983 — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 09:31:21 GMT

@ney I don't think you will be the only one to be honest.

No channels added to the entertainment package in a year and a half, just removing them.

Reason I took the Entertainment package last April was because the now app was buggy on my Roku and Fire stick, but it seems a lot better now.

If there isn't any change by the time my contract is up, I am going too.

Re: UKTV Channels in IP Mode

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 09:52:37 GMT

Don’t know what I’m going to do to be honest at this stage. I’m waiting to see what these offers to move to EE look like, with the broadband component being more important to me at this point than TV.

By the way, UKTV is rebranding soon in case anyone wasn’t aware. I doubt this will have any impact on carriage deals, but you never know: https://corporate.uktv.co.uk/news/article/uktv-announces-creation-of-u-a-new-brand/

Re: UKTV Channels in IP Mode

SoupDragon57 — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 10:54:12 GMT

@Weerab I think you've bit the nail on the head. Even the Apple TV Now app is much improved. With freely around the corner, this becomes a real option depending on the number of IP channels in HD they provide (and whether they come to their senses and produce set top boxes, not just TVs).

I did also see that Sky even has HD versions of both UKTV and Great! Channels (although they also don't have Talking Pictures).

Re: UKTV Channels in IP Mode

Midnight_Voice — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 18:04:14 GMT

@Anonymous you said:

I remember this thread, the level of chutzpah from a tiny TV platform that needs content deals to grow its attractiveness and customer base, still makes me laugh today.

But I can’t figure out if you were talking about UKTV or EETV here 😛

Re: UKTV Channels in IP Mode

Brucemeister5 — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 19:49:49 GMT

@Anonymous The broadband component is the most important part for us too, of course. We’ve had really good offers for tv renewal that I would probably take as they are better than we could achieve by taking everything direct. Mustn’t allow the tail to wag the dog though, so to speak.

We are still waiting for FTTP via Openreach to arrive here, and I can’t see new EE broadband offering anything better than we already have. However, half of our village has been dug up since Christmas by the new full fibre operators. I’m not sure whether I can allow myself to trust them though. My O/H leaves her BT account for me to deal with, and if I get the broadband call wrong I can see myself being invited to sleep on the beach ( which is probably preferable to sleeping with the fishes) and will also rule out tv by default.

Re: UKTV Channels in IP Mode

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 20:43:09 GMT

@Brucemeister5 Apart from a couple of features on the hub missing I would like to have (guest network and split the bands), the broadband has been really solid for FTTC and faster than with any other provider I have used on the same line.

Service via the mods here has been top notch as well.

Openreach are now saying they are going to build FTTP in the next 12 months here, I suspect because an alt-net is going to, but I’m not sure if they actually will.

As far as I can tell, some of the things I have with BT Broadband are extra with EE (PAYG digital voice & security), plus I have a free upgrade to FTTP with Halo.

TV would have to be an exceptional offer to make me keep it. I pay £10 per month now for TNT Sport and a Pro Box and think that is overpriced… 🤣

Re: UKTV Channels in IP Mode

Weerab1983 — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 21:02:30 GMT

I've got no problem with the broadband and I am on a great deal for it.

It's just what your getting for the entertainment package that gets me compared to what you get with free IP channels with other providers. That is my bug bare for the moment.

At the moment I will continue to use the Pro box for my package and switch to my built in Freeview for that's TV, uktv and talking pictures etc. I do like my old TV shows and movies lol

Re: UKTV Channels in IP Mode

Brucemeister5 — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 21:20:32 GMT

We’ve had very few problems with broadband and we also have a free upgrade to FTTP with Halo 3 + as well. I’m nervous about switching to another provider offering much cheaper prices as there’s no guarantee that it will match what we have already. We’re quite happy with the speeds that we have and don’t actually need more. I’m also happy with the help provided on here with special mention to @DarrenDev who is unbelievably helpful. I’ll hold on for a few more weeks before making a decision, but I think I do know what I’m intending to do.

Re: UKTV Channels in IP Mode

Weerab1983 — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 21:24:06 GMT

Mods especially Darren has been great.

Re: UKTV Channels in IP Mode

Midnight_Voice — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 22:24:11 GMT

@Anonymous

Guest Network sure. But at the risk of asking a question that has come up many times on the Community, why do you want to be able to split the bands?

Re: UKTV Channels in IP Mode

Anonymous — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 07:16:36 GMT

@Midnight_Voice

Smart home devices, i.e. set up and maintaining connection.

I just think the “steering” or whatever it is called should work correctly or don’t use it.

Having to log into the hub, turn off 5ghz, change the mode then try and connect a device before turning it all back on again is too much of a faff for an average consumer.

Since the last firmware update I had 3 new smart plugs for Christmas, none of which I could get to connect after many hours of frustration.

Now I have an existing smart plug that worked fine which none of my HomeKit can see any longer.

Needs to be simpler and much more reliable. Perhaps the EE Smart Hub Plus is better at this?