This topic

Leaving EE TV, what do I need to do?

ptrduffy — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 16:30:19 GMT

My EE TV contract expires at the end of this week. I've decided that it's not worth renewing it - we never watch anything on Sky/Now/Discovery, and the recent changes to IP mode recording and playback remove the only real benefit.

I have a few questions which I'm sure others here will be able to help with

What happens if I don't cancel - will it switch to a monthly rolling contract? (I need to get my aerial sorted, and that might not happen by Friday)
My Netflix is currently bundled through EE TV, and is on a different renewal schedule (it renewed for a month yesterday). How do I go about taking this back to a direct subscription? And if I do so before the next monthly renewal, will I just get a pro-rata refund on my next BT bill?
If I don't return the TV Box Pro, I understand that's a £140 charge with the possibility that it stops working at some point in the future - but other than that it shold continue to function as a Freeview PVR (limited to aerial mode), correct?

Many thanks in advance.

Re: Leaving EE TV, what do I need to do?

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 20:24:37 GMT

@ptrduffy

As far as I understand it:

1. Yes and the price will likely increase if you had in contract discounts. You will have to call BT at some point to cancel.

2. You will need to cancel it with BT then add direct payment details with Netflix once the period you paid for has lapsed. You should be able to cancel in MyBT but nothing much works in there right now, so again, you might need to call.

3. Yes, but I would recommend investing instead in a Manhattan T4-R if you are going to have a working aerial. £200 gets you the same size hard drive, fresh 2 year warranty and a proper Freeview Play certified device.

Re: Leaving EE TV, what do I need to do?

edbostan — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 04:29:26 GMT

My contract expires at year end and I am doing the same. Don't forget you pay for a month in advance. I am on the Entertainment package and it includes Netflix, Discovery + and Now as part of the subscription. As to whether I need another box is up for debate as so much is on catch-up and on-demand I hardly record these days.

Re: Leaving EE TV, what do I need to do?

ney — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 08:08:44 GMT

I left BT TV as it was called back then just under 2 years ago when my contract only had a few days

In my case I never had to send my Youview box back as I had it since 2019 but the pro box that they now used and that you have has to be returned to EE.
Channels will stay on for a week or so on the package that your on before they turn them off. At lest they did for me and you got 60 days to return your stuff back to them. You can transfer your Netflix account back to paying Netflix direct if you want. When I had BT TV Netflix was an added extra and I was already paying Netflix direct. So never had Netflix as part of a TV package.

In my case I did move to paying Now direct with discounts. After I cancelled the TV.

Also been using HD Firesticks connected to my two TVs for all my apps for a good few years now.

I also still occasionally record TV but not as much as I used to.

I have since fully left BT and I now with another internet provider.

Re: Leaving EE TV, what do I need to do?

ptrduffy — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 10:27:30 GMT

Thanks all for the detailed replies.

@Anonymousthe Manhattan T4-R looks good (bar some reports on other forums about poor SD quality), but I like the fact that the BT box uses a Bluetooth remote as it means I can have the box hidden away - I will likely either keep that box or source another.

Re: Leaving EE TV, what do I need to do?

Midnight_Voice — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 15:15:18 GMT

@ptrduffy

Be aware that what BT will charge you is a ‘Non-return fee’; you still don’t own the box, and you never will.

But I think you have two years in which to send it back, and get your non-return fee returned, unless EE TV have changed their T&Cs about this lately.

I daresay that a lot can happen in two years; will Now be so attractive when Sky lose HBO, will the inexorable march of on demand finally render recording pointless, or what?

By the way, no doubt you know, but any recordings you have made from the EE TV internet channels will no longer play once you’ve left, as well as those channels no longer being available to watch or record going forward.

I think the box will keep working, in that EE TV won’t spike it remotely. But watch the business news for EE TV putting a shot across CeX’s bows for selling Pro boxes; that would be a bellwether.

Re: Leaving EE TV, what do I need to do?

GarethPrice — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 19:46:45 GMT

@Midnight_Voice

There’s an interesting article on CordBusters re the Sky/HBO relationship going forward

Sky-wont-lose-hbo-hint-max-deal/

Re: Leaving EE TV, what do I need to do?

zulu17 — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 22:54:32 GMT

@Midnight_Voice

The wording used I believe is/was

“Payment of the non-return equipment charge does not transfer ownership, you must still return the loaned equipment. If the loaned equipment is returned within two years of the non-return equipment charge being levied, we will credit your account (or provide a refund at our absolute discretion) an amount corresponding to the condition of the loaned equipment allowing for reasonable wear and tear”

so the amount may not be the full non-return equipment charge.

Re: Leaving EE TV, what do I need to do?

Midnight_Voice — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 08:15:16 GMT

@GarethPrice

Oh, Sky will still carry it; but HBO content is probably the tentpole attraction of Now Entertainment, and Now Entertainment is in turn the tentpole attraction of EE TV, at least for the sport-blind like me, and I can’t see Sky striving to keep HBO content on Now, once there is a Max app out there.

In better news, it looks like the most-missed service on IP TV may be coming….

https://www.cordbusters.co.uk/talking-pictures-tv-plans-streaming-expansion/

Re: Leaving EE TV, what do I need to do?

GarethPrice — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 08:50:51 GMT

@Midnight_Voice

Couldn’t agree more about HBO being a major part of the attraction of Now/EETV along with many of the recent Sky funded drama series, plus comedies such as Veep and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Talking Pictures would be the icing on the cake as totally reliant on IP for the present time, also given they are about to start showing the very first series of Z-Cars, most of whose outside scenes were filmed around West London, where I spent my childhood, and was in the background as an 11 year old in one episode in series two, and our house was featured in another episode (we had the actor John Barrie in our front room peeking through the curtains at Frank Windsor (John Watt) coming down the road). Sports wise the only attraction for me is the motorsport element (F1, Indycar, British GT, WEC)

Re: Leaving EE TV, what do I need to do?

Weerab1983 — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 09:11:14 GMT

It came out in July that WB were in discussions with EE as well over Max.

https://rxtvinfo.com/2024/wbd-in-talks-with-virgin-media-ee-and-amazon-over-uk-max-rollout/

As it would replace Discovery plus youd like to think it would be a straight swap.

I seem to recollect that's That's TV were also looking into IP streams and now that Talking pictures are looking into it, it's a win win.

The new channel five app will have paramount content in it.

Xumo play is get rolled out on Sky, so maybe in the future we might get that through Now

Re: Leaving EE TV, what do I need to do?

Midnight_Voice — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 10:14:20 GMT

@Weerab1983

I have three questions: (i) will it cost me any more money, (ii) will it cost me any more money, and (iii) will it be integrated with any of the streaming services I currently have?

You might guess the relatively low importance to me of (iii) compared to (i) and (ii), but (iii) is what the streaming services will be fighting over.

But HBO is not what it was; House of the Drag-on isn’t an eyepatch on GoT…..

Re: Leaving EE TV, what do I need to do?

GarethPrice — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 10:29:38 GMT

“But HBO is not what it was; House of the Drag-on isn’t an eyepatch on GoT…..”

So true, sadly, @Midnight_Voice

Re: Leaving EE TV, what do I need to do?

Weerab1983 — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 11:09:23 GMT

@Midnight_Voice if Xumo comes it would be free as it is FAST orientated and with adverts.

Funnily enough my Mrs couldn't part with Sky Stream, and the last time I was using Xumo, EE were the adverts. I don't know how advert deals go down.

The new channel five app will be free I imagine, but not sure about the additional content. Can't imagine it will be like Itvx premium, but let's see what happens.