Forthcoming New NOWTV Box

[geoffreys3]

In addition to having the Freeview option, what other new features will it have? Will it be a standalone unit, or will it plug into my existing black NOWTV Box?

Thanks

Geoff

Scarborough.

[Andy]

@geoffreys3

It'll be a standalone unit, basically combining a freeview box (for which you'll need to plug in an aerial) and a NOW TV box (so it will connect to the Internet to access the current apps you get on a NOW TV box). 

However there's not been much more said about it, so any other speculation on features, price etc are just that.

If you haven't already there is a registration open for a trial of the new box, Slough it's been open a while so I'm not sure what your chances will be.

http://community.nowtv.com/t5/NOW-TV-Box-black/Test-the-NOW-TV-Smart-Box/m-p/358612#M3013

[PhilStation]

Can any of the Now TV team tell us when we will find out if we have been successful for the beta trial?

Also, does the new box have the ability to record or is it just a tuner? I am keen to replace my Youview box with another box that actually lets me view my Now TV entertaiment pass but without a record function, it would probably not do the job. 

[Andy]

@PhilStation

---

@PhilStation wrote:

Also, does the new box have the ability to record or is it just a tuner? I am keen to replace my Youview box with another box that actually lets me view my Now TV entertaiment pass but without a record function, it would probably not do the job. 

---

My guess would be not, they are probably looking for a product that would allow Sky Broadband to compete with the ' 3-in1 package deals' of TV, phone and broadband that TalkTalk, BT etc. have. So I would imagine like the YouView box it would not have recording ability.

However, we'll only really find out either once the trial gets underway (although those chosen will be under NDA not to discuss anything publicly) or NOW TV release details of the box themselves. 

[PhilStation]

I struggle to see a market for the box without a recording facility.

It would be inferior to Youview without this and everyone with a TV already has a built in tuner. The only benefit would be not having to switch inputs...

TBH I wouldn't have an issue with a non-pvr box, if only there were a way to track my shows across all major PSB's without having to go into each of the apps to see if there are new episodes available. Unfortunately that is a pipe dream for now. 

[PhilStation]

That said, if SKy could integrage ROKU's universal search that would be a good start. Universal search is already available on Youview and is supposed to be coming to Freeview play so the PSB's are obviously willing to support these services. 

[BicBasher]

I rarely use my old PVR these days.  I use the catch up services instead.

[dr_necessitor]

We do about 50-50 - record stuff that's on Freeview channels (on a YouView PVR) and stream stuff (that we used to watch on Sky!) and sometimes Sports & Movies from NOW TV. We also use Netflix on a regular basis, YouTube for a couple of things every week and have also streamed from Amazon Video in the past. Thanks to a recent 50% off voucher, we even bought something (obscure) from BBC Store and will be streaming that soon. If you've got a decent broadband connection, I reckon streaming is the way to go in the longer term.

[soulfool74]

streaming is our pref at home now, dont have to worry about disc space or a box full of watched recordings the kids and missus havnt been deleting

[commanda6]

Hi all

When it comes to things that were available on free to air TV . I prefer to use recordings to catch up rather than the catch up services. Because the only catch-up service, which provides a decent video quality is the BBC. The only service that might get anywhere close to the BBC iPlayer is my five (previously known as demand five). The rest of the quality isn't very good, especially Channel 4 the catch up video quality can sometimes be dismal.

For this reason, I prefer to record that HD channels where possible, so that I can catch up decent video quality and I would imagine that quite a lot of people will feel the same way until the catch up services get their act together and provide decent video quality