Freeview channels with EE Entertainment package

[JoolsMc66]

My Sky package comes up for renewal in May. Seriously looking at the EE Now Entertainment package. Would I have to switch between Freeview and Now if I wanted to watch BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Quest etc? Seems a bit of a faff!

[Kodikid]

No the EE/youview tv guide is probably better then sky. But....

EE tv is basically just freeview with Now tv.  Much cheaper getting a streaming device and paying for Now direct 

[JoolsMc66]

Thank you. I already have broadband with BT (now EE?) so thought about adding the TV option to it. We currently have Sky Q so like the option of recording a couple of channels at the same time and having a tv guide that covers all channels. Was just exploring as to whether the EE entertainment package could give us this. Been with Sky for years but would make quite a significant saving if we moved away

[Kodikid]

I've had BT tv since it's inception, had literally every box . When I decided to leave I bought a pro box from a well known auction site.

Now I find I never bother with recordings..it's amazing how quickly streaming becomes the norm

Even if you decided to stay with Sky your Sky Q recording days would be numbered as 90% of Sky  subscriptions is now for Sky stream. 

[ney]

In the long run you maybe better doing what I did 20 months ago and went with Now direct with discounts. After cancelling my big entertainment package with BT TV as it was called then.

As EETV dont seem to offer the discounts that going with Now direct does.
I have entertainment. cinema and boost direct with Now and I saving a few pounds a month with Now direct.

I still have an old Youview box that at times I still use to record as I find about 10% of programmes are still not on any streaming service.

I also have Netflix direct and Disney+ both standard with out ads and extra member.

Also have Prime with ads. That includes Prime delivery.

[JoolsMc66]

How does it work then Ney? We have a Sky Q box currently which we can record channels on. The TV guide has all the channels on it. With Now TV would I get a similar thing? Also, is it done through an aerial or WiFi? Don’t want to be in a situation where I am having to flip from Freeview channels to Now TV. Hope this makes sense, trying to understand how it would work!

[Brucemeister5]

@JoolsMc66 That would involve using the NOW app to access programmes either live or on catch-up, and having to flip back to your Freeview tv guide to access your other channels. Exactly what you don’t want.

[Kodikid]

Noticed Sky are no longer selling Sky Q.

So if a pvr is important to you then you have to exclude Sky.

[Midnight_Voice]

@JoolsMc66 

A few axes being ground above, at the expense of a good description of how EETV works 😢

All your live channels are in the EPG of the Box Pro - the Freeview ones in the range 1-300, and Sky (via Now) Entertainment, Cinema, Sport, TNT Sport, Discovery+, ranging up from 301 to 600.

Utterly seamless, no swapping apps, just pick them up by changing channels, play anything you are subscribed to. Even set the Box Pro to record from them, multiple channels at once if you like, for time shifting or to hang on to.

For catchup of anything in the last week or so, just go backward on the EPG, select the relevant programme.

Other than that, yes, use the catchup apps. But if you think that switching from app to app is a faff, EETV absolutely minimises this for you. Pretty much exactly what you described yourself as wanting.

[Lսkе]

@JoolsMc66 

Although there aren't the same Now discounts when bought through EE TV, the advantage of purchasing a Now subscription through EE TV is that the Now linear channels will appear in the EE TV box's epg channel list alongside any other channels that are included and can be recorded and played back providing you continue to subscribe to Now via EE TV.
For the Now channel numbers when bought through EE TV see the channels numbers in the range of 313 to 385 which are listed at https://www.bt.com/help/tv/guide .

There is also a choice of two modes for what you referred to as "Freeview channels".  See https://ee.co.uk/help/tv-sport/manage-use/modes for a brief introduction.
It is possible to switch between the two and retain your older recordings but is a bit of a faff, and any recordings that you have already made from channels in the 1 to 233 range may not be playable after that switch, especially those made in IP mode, if switching from IP mode to aerial mode.