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chilli2
Elite

Now TV outside the UK ( but with EU)

I may be away  over the Easter period, and will ( probably) be takig my Roku stick with me, I'm guessing that Now Tv services will work as they do in the UK?? as long as i am within the european economic area/EU in line with the roaming rules/regulations

10 REPLIES 10
schnapps
Legend 5
Legend 5

Hi @chilli2

 

According to this BBC News Sky related article, the EU Geoblocking rules don't come into force until the Summer this year (not conversant with the law myself so i don't know if this is accurate or the exact date in question).

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42815603

 

Also looking at the nowtv Help Centre i found this article which i assume will stay in place until the above EU rules come into place ?

 

https://help.nowtv.com/article/can-i-watch-now-tv-abroad

schnapps
Legend 5
Legend 5

Hi @chilli2

 

3rd of December 2018 according to this website article when the EU Geo - Blocking rules come into play.

 

https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/geo-blocking-digital-single-market

chilli2
Elite

Just done a litte bit of digging, and came accross this

Cross-border portability of online content services

 

https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/cross-border-portability-online-content-services

 

[quote]The portability regulation will become applicable in all EU Member States from 1 April 2018.[/quote]

 

[quote]

Online services concerned 

The online services can be video-on-demand platforms (such as Netflix, HBO Go, Amazon Prime, Mubi, Chili TV), online TV services (such as Viasat's Viaplay,[b] Sky's Now TV, [/b]Voyo), music streaming services (such as Spotify, Deezer, Google Music) or game online marketplaces (such as Steam, Origin).[/quote]

 

so it looks likke Easter would be a good test of this,

schnapps
Legend 5
Legend 5

Hi @chilli2

 

Been doing some extra reading on the internet about this new EU Geo Blocking Law coming into force this year, where some website news articles says streaming services like Netflix is included in this new EU law, where other website news articles says that Netflix and other streaming services will escape this new EU directive this year ?

 

Here's an example below saying Netflix and other streaming services will be exempt initially from the above EU rules.

 

 http://www.dw.com/en/eu-parliament-bans-geoblocking-exempts-netflix-and-other-streaming-services/a-4...

 

More confused now than ever Smiley Mad

chilli2
Elite

The regulations I linked to concern the portability of online services, and it specifcly mentions Now TV and a date of the 1st of April.

 https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/cross-border-portability-online-content-services

 

Reading through it, it appears that content providers, such as Now Tv will have to rely on the location of a customers bank account/credit card account location to verify if they are entitled to access the service.

 

Another method could be via a registered device, such as a Roku/Now Tv box/Stick/phone/tablet etc being alowed to access Now Tv services anywhere in the EU/wider european area as long as it was activiated in the persons Home country.

 

Anyway, will wait and see, al;though the ability to download now TV contect ( as per netflix/iplayer etc) would be far more useful

schnapps
Legend 5
Legend 5

Hi @chilli2

 

I suppose we will find out on the 1st of April 2018 (which is not far away) Smiley Happy

Andy
Legend 5
Legend 5

@schnapps You're getting mixed up with a different directive there. The one @chilli2 refers to is the correct one, which does come into force on 1st April, although it doesn't apply to providers that don't charge (BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub etc) unless they chose to opt-in.

 

Other NOW TV terms are still applicable, eg you need to be resident in the UK and only temporarily accessing it in an EU member state.  

gavs82008
Legend 5
Legend 5

It’ll be very good news to see if this actually happens. As my parents live in Spain but are still using Now TV via unlocator which from time to time has issues, this would remove the need for any of that!
FYI that I do not work for NOW, just a NOW customer trying to help
Andy
Legend 5
Legend 5

For anyone interested, NOW TV is now available to watch while you are temporarily abroad in EU member states. More information about how it works here

 

https://help.nowtv.com/article/can-i-watch-now-tv-abroad