This topic

Product Support for EETV (BT) recordable Boxes

zulu17 — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 10:32:59 GMT

I believe that the minimum support for BT products are listed in

https://img01.products.bt.co.uk/content/dam/bt/storefront/pdfs/terms/bt-product-support-may-2024-issue-3.pdf

Whilst I appreciate it is the minimum support periods it is of some concern that recordable TV boxes have or are wihin the next 9 months reaching the end of the minimum support period.

Can we get clarification and reassurance that there will be continued support and development once this occurs please or will the boxes simply be maintained at their status they are currently at ?

Re: Product Support for EETV (BT) recordable Boxes

Weerab1983 — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 11:41:21 GMT

Definitely agree.

If the pro box support ends next March, it would need to be extended unless they are intending to bring out another product to replace it.

If freely does become the UKs preference to terrestrial TV, I am not sure the current boxes would support it.

But as Youview also provide the software for freely, it's interesting times ahead.

Re: Product Support for EETV (BT) recordable Boxes

Kodikid — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 13:13:49 GMT

I think the days of pvr's are numbered. Even Sky that pioneer and bastion of set top pvr's have abandoned them focusing almost entirely on streaming.

It's possible the pro box will make way for apple tv in the not so distant future on EE.

Re: Product Support for EETV (BT) recordable Boxes

Weerab1983 — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 13:42:53 GMT

Freely also does not let you record and is using watch lists, which have recently appeared on EE apple TV.

Re: Product Support for EETV (BT) recordable Boxes

Kodikid — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 14:06:43 GMT

Wouldn't read too much into Freely

Literally the only only way to access it is by purchasing a low end supermarket tv.

Surely a app would have mass market appeal.

Also EE already supplies tv over the Internet, although it seems to have been forgotten since it's inception as it's never been advanced any further

Re: Product Support for EETV (BT) recordable Boxes

Weerab1983 — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 14:24:20 GMT

Tivo are apparently making freely boxes which could be available by Christmas.

I have a Hisense QLED freely TV in my living room and it's perfectly fine.

The one thing that freely has over EE IP TV is the uktv channels and aerial support for freeview channels where there are no IP alternatives available.

Re: Product Support for EETV (BT) recordable Boxes

Hunter2660 — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 14:44:03 GMT

The hybrid Freely EPG is a bit of a pigs ear at the moment. Not all ip channels are given preference, the U channels, True Crime, Legend and PSB America are a case in point, they are the over the air versions.

Then there is the ITV1 HD macro channels problem. (Here in the West Country the HD region is Central West). That is given preference over the IP version, even though the ITV1 HD IP West Country region is available. So you end up with ITV SD on LCN 3 and, the incorrect HD version on LCN 61. Unless of course you ditch the aerial and then all the current IP channels stream as they should in HD or better quality SD. But you then lose the over the air channels? See what I mean!!!!

Re: Product Support for EETV (BT) recordable Boxes

Weerab1983 — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 14:58:28 GMT

@Hunter2660 that's the case of a fixable update I guess. After that is corrected it should be all good.

Re: Product Support for EETV (BT) recordable Boxes

Hunter2660 — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 15:44:45 GMT

Actually I contacted Freely about the ITV1 HD issue a year ago, and asked could they provide an otion to replace the over the air version with the IP version. The reply was to contact ITV about the incorrect over the air ITV HD region. As ITV haven't bothered to regionalise their HD channels as the BBC did over a year ago, I'm not hopeful. Interestingly it wouldn't be so bad if you could use ITVX to stream your local ITV1, but guess what................. that uses the same macro regions as ITV1 HD. DOH!!!!

Re: Product Support for EETV (BT) recordable Boxes

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 16:26:19 GMT

Could it simply be the demise/EOL of BT branded hardware? Given that the Pro Boxes are now branded EE & new customers seem to be receiving EE branded routers. Is there a similar page for EE devices?

The date of that doc is also when the BT brand was to be deprecated for residential customers, so could yet be updated/extended .

Re: Product Support for EETV (BT) recordable Boxes

Kodikid — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 16:40:03 GMT

Doubt it..

whether we like it or not there's been a sea change into how content is viewed. Just like when recordable vhs tapes was replaced by non recordable dvd's or cassette to CDs

People simply don't record anymore as supposedly everything is available to stream on demand.

Re: Product Support for EETV (BT) recordable Boxes

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 16:48:19 GMT

@Kodikid

That doesn't explain the EOL of the SH2, Hybrid Connect & Complete WiFi discs, also scheduled for 2026.

Re: Product Support for EETV (BT) recordable Boxes

Kodikid — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 16:59:19 GMT

Well think the aging wifi discs will definitely be replaced by 2026 and don't forget the SH2 will be nearly a decade old by then.

Re: Product Support for EETV (BT) recordable Boxes

zulu17 — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 23:09:58 GMT

@Anonymous You asked whether EE would have a similar list . As part of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) legislation which came into effect on 29 April 2024 they (EE) will have been required to provide the information.

The latest EE list is i could find from May 2025

https://ee.co.uk/content/dam/help/terms-and-conditions/general/software-support/ee-product-support-may-2025-issue-8.pdf

Re: Product Support for EETV (BT) recordable Boxes

Anonymous — Sat, 26 Jul 2025 06:48:03 GMT

@zulu17

That knocks that idea on the head then, as the EE Pro Box has the same date.

As you said in the OP, it is only the minimum term. But then we've recently seen the announcement for the withdrawal of the app for the baby monitors, just six months after the stated deadline...

Re: Product Support for EETV (BT) recordable Boxes

Kodikid — Sat, 26 Jul 2025 11:33:01 GMT

Ironically cordbusters has a article on the death of recording in this week's edition.

Re: Product Support for EETV (BT) recordable Boxes

DarrenDev — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 05:38:58 GMT

I've just been made aware of this thread by a comment on the EE forums.
That document just lists the MINIMUM period of support. The older recordable boxes (T4xx) will definitely lose support before the Pro and Mini boxes, which I'd expect to be around for a while longer. A new box would be made available long before the current boxes stop being updated.

Re: Product Support for EETV (BT) recordable Boxes

zulu17 — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 21:20:22 GMT

@DarrenDev Customers are today being told that discovery plus will cease to be available on their boxes next month (22 Sept).

This does seem a drop off in functionality being provided/supported on the affected series of boxes

Re: Product Support for EETV (BT) recordable Boxes

DarrenDev — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 13:22:53 GMT

I said I expect the Pro and Mini boxes to be around for a while longer - the discovery+ announcement only affects the Humax boxes.

Re: Product Support for EETV (BT) recordable Boxes

Kodikid — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 08:31:58 GMT

Bet to differ

Virgin recently abandoned their pvr in favour of a streaming box which mirrors Sky's policy.

EE are just falling in line.

The writing's on the wall for pvr's