Bt Sport App for smart tv content and functionality

[anlewis64]

I have Bt sport through EE with the large screen upgrade. I have both Apps on my phone and on my smart tv. 

There seems to be alot more functionality and content on the phone compared to the tv app. 

I cannot pause or rewind/fastforward anything on the tv app and there isn't an option to search for programmes or find all catch up content. 

Is it just that the tv App has less functionality (in which case why???) Or am I missing something? 

Thanks!

[Andy005]

Hi @anlewis64 

I think the TV app is just a large screen channel as you have said. I hadn't really noticed it before myself, but there's no 360 deg views etc.  I think there's a thought that the mobile apps have extra functionality so that they can be used as companion apps while viewing, it's too much faffing about syncing them up for my liking.

[zulu17]

Hi @anlewis64 

There is an enhanced BT sport player that is available for a range of sports events.

https://www.bt.com/help/bt-sport/getting-set-up/online/the-enhanced-bt-sport-player

The large screen apps currently typically have the standard BT sport player and the live content streams are like a linear channel.

If you are using for example the Samsung Tv Bt Sport App you will not  currently have a search option for content  but you would be able to navigate through the the various categories displayed  and discover  what is available. Some catchup content that is only available in enhanced  player mode may not be in the large screen app.

[Entelechy]

Same here. The Samsung BT app is very poor. It is just like watching a live channel on freeview. Typical half assed BT way of doing things, They need to take lessons from Sky when it comes to functionality and user experience.

[DarrenDev]

The main aim of the BT Sport app is to let subscribers watch live channels in the best and easiest way possible, across as many devices as possible, and as quick as possible. Once that core functionality is delivered, we can then add more features later. Taking Samsung TV as an example - first we launched with channels and highlights clips, then we added BT Sport Ultimate to watch in 4K HDR, then replays came a short while later. We've not stopped there - apps on all the platforms are still being worked on, and we'll continue to deliver new features as soon as they're ready.

Also bear in mind that your phone is a lot more powerful than your TV, so there are some things the large screen apps will never be able to do.

For the 360 camera example - it's easy to pick up your phone and move around, but trying to do it on a TV would be much slower trying to move around with a keypad. Some things just work better on small screens. That's not to say they'll never happen on large screen - let's see what happens!

[iwishthatdidnthappen]

Ummmm - sorry. Not providing even a pause button on the standard live player on the web player is unbelievable. 

[DarrenDev]

I definitely wouldn't say "unbelievable" @iwishthatdidnthappen ... it's a very advanced feature to offer that from a device that has no local ability to record. We therefore need to do the recording at our end and let you skip through it - that comes with great effort and expense which is why it's currently only offered in the enhanced player. We're working on bringing it to standard player for specific events, but currently have no plans to offer it 24x7.

[iwishthatdidnthappen]

Thanks Darren. I am genuinely curious about the technical details here. I pay £25 a month for web access as I do not have anything else BT and I want to access on my Windows 10 PC so I just access the website and player. 

How is the technology different from BBC iPlayer to prohibit a pause button and a "restart programme" feature?

[DarrenDev]

I had expected you to give BBC as the example. They are the exception - if you consider the hundreds of other channels that don't offer this functionality. BBC have decided to spend their money on offering this feature, whereas it's not top of our list. Their channels are entertainment 24x7 but our channels are very much event based, where replays of those events are available as soon as they're finished. The demand for instant rewind is very small.

[Entelechy]

Amazon Prime app on Samsung smart tv   allows pause and rewind and they are currently showing live Premiere League matches.

ps Are you a representative of BT stating the company's position?