Update Now TV app for apple TV

[Anonymous User]

Will the Now TV app for Apple TV ever get an update?

The current version is complete rubbish and makes me regret ever getting a Now TV pass.

Unless there is an update my Now TV experience will be very short indeed.

[Anonymous User]

I never had that email on the 12th June and never knew that George was no longer the trials manager, who is now do we know?? Probably explains why I haven’t had any reply’s

[Breaking_Bad]

As mentioned it was a private email to me. 

[nst]

I think its the use of the word 'we' which is confusing.

You were told in a private email... we weren't 🙂

Surely, or hopefully, the trials manager position can be filled.  Lets hope that the trial itself isnt abandoned and if it is you'd hope they would tell us to stop our testing otherwise we are wasting our time!

There is more to a trial than a trials manager after all.  The development effort shouldn't be abandoned.

[MrZippy]

Sounds made up to me, as I never got an email either.

Just goes to show you can’t believe anything you read!

[Breaking_Bad]

Apologies, the “we” referred to my partner and I. 

As one of the earliest proponents on this forum many years ago for the app to be updated, I recently wrote a nice email to George and his team thanking them for their efforts under the current COVID circumstances. That is when I got a courteous reply back to let me know he was no longer the trial manager. 

[MrZippy]

Ah right, probably means this is dead again then as no contact for weeks. Got to laugh, I might well be withdrawing my funding to NowTV in the near future if it goes that way.

I still watch 99% of my content on Netflix, on my opinion Sky doesn’t have that much good content. There is the odd thing that takes my fancy, and it saves me money to binge box sets rather than watching weekly.

[nst]

@MrZippy 

I dont share your pessimism - or im trying not to!

I would hope that a change of personnel behind the scenes doesnt mean that hundreds of development man-hours are then thrown down the drain and a platform that (should) have some strategic importance is left in the dust.

IF this is the case and we arent getting the updated app, then I hope NowTV officially drop support altogether as the AppleTV with the "current" app is not an option at all for most.

Im sure that they will just reassign a new trials manager and carry on.

I have been critical at the slow progress here and I remain so.  My concern now and as always is the lack of communication and promised things such as surveys etc dont appear.  There is certainly no feedback when submitting fault reports.

Ive come to terms with how we are treated as trialists, however I hope our efforts arent ultimately for nothing and they do actually release the app this time.  I dont see how they cant to be honest. Its not like there is a adequately working app available to fall back on.

[nst]

Just noticed the iOS app has been updated again today.  It gets regular updates at least every few months.

Anyone yearn for the day when the AppleTV TVOS app is a universal app that receives as much love as the iOS version does?

Im really hoping that this is the case, and that when the updated version launches, that it is not left to languish in the gutter for another 5 years and it receives regular updates going forward.

[MrZippy]

You mean like the Irish app, whilst I haven’t checked today previously the change log for the Irish tvOS app matches the iOS one. Meaning regular releases.

[nst]

lets hope then that this is what we will (eventually) end up with.

[dr_necessitor]

@Breaking_Bad 

“We were told on 12th June in a private email that George is no longer the trials manager. This may explain the silence. ”

As a long-standing beta triallist of this app (current & previous incarnations) who has had personal direct communication with George/Trials Manager over a long period of time on & off, you may (or may not?!) be surprised to hear that I didn’t receive that email (not in spam either). Unfortunately this kind of just sums up the whole experience of this beta trial for me.

[dr_necessitor]

On reflection, I think I’ve had enough now and I’m done with this beta trial.

If the app eventually gets released (hopefully with Boost support for 5.1 sound & 50fps for sports), I’ll be delighted and will be pleased to use it. It will mean finally being able to use the tv 4k for all our streaming use (internal & external).

But until then, going to stick with the Roku Streaming Stick+ for NOW TV.

“It’s been emotional”...

[MrZippy]

See I refuse to compromise, if they want my money on a regular basis they need to update the app. Every other U.K. service has a modern tvOS app on the Apple TV now. Apart from nowtv.

[nst]

@MrZippy 

@dr_necessitor 

I agree with both of you.

The trial is getting a bit stale.. and I hope it doesnt collapse or disappear though as someone who is keen to help and get this thing released at long last it is a frustrating experience being left in the dark a lot and not knowing whats happening when.  Theres only so much you can keep testing when there is zero feedback.

I am using the NowTV box and I am desperate for the day that the AppleTV can be the only box under the TV.

And yes, I agree that when everyone else in the streaming business can have a decent and modern full functioned app for AppleTV, then NowTV have no excuse - especially with what passes as the current app.  It must be addressed and updated very soon.

[Enapace]

@dr_necessitor 

I can understand you even YouTube in the upcoming update is going be in 4K now. 

[MrZippy]

Hasn’t Sky only just added a UHD channel and is it even available streaming? Whereas the other subscription streaming services are 4K HDR with Atmos in some cases, and have been for a while.

I really think they are trying to protect their core satellite business.

[nst]

@MrZippy 

There is a small amount of truth in that but to a point.

NowTV is certainly the "poor mans" Sky.  However the service must be compelling and in my opinion has to move with the times and 1080p must be a minimum when its priced as a premium streaming service certainly in comparison to the cost of Netflix etc - and its way ahead of cost to Disney+ which manages 4K as standard.

I think there are still plenty of differentiators between NowTV and Sky's satellite services.  SkyQ is expensive but a lot of people still want a PVR, multiple recording streams, multiroom potential, tons of (useless) channels that they never watch, and UHD 4K content.

Its fair to assume that NowTV will never be 4K - as it is certainly aimed below SkyQ.

[Anonymous User]

I have contacted the executive team who have said the update is due later this year and their tech team advise to keep an eye on the community boards.

which I have been doing anyway.

[Anonymous User]

So does this mean when the beta expires we will have an updated app or are they just feeding us a line like the past few years?? That’s my fear with all of this

[nst]

@Anonymous User 

Well, they would say that wouldn't they.  We've been promised an update this year for a while.  

I had assumed that it would be by summertime at the latest.

@Anonymous User 

Thats how it works but Dr_Necessitator has more direct experience than me.

Yes, technically the current beta build has an expiry date, and once that date comes round the beta app ceases to work (I think).  The first beta in march almost counted down to the full 90 days but not quite.  The second beta is counting down too as we speak - there is little sight of movement or further comms or changes but thats not all that surprising.

I remain confident (well, as confident as I can be) that the app will finally be released to the masses this time around - just when Ive no idea.  We must hope it will be this year and sooner rather than later of course.  The process is taking a lot longer than I had anticipated.

[Anonymous User]

Completely agree, I’ve said many times before on here that with the new layout in this beta I have used Nowtv a lot more than I would have and find the whole experience to be much better and easier to navigate and use. I like many other people on this forum use my Apple TV As my only box as I wanted to save money and couldn’t justify paying £140 per month for sky q with the packages and an etc box.

I’m in the process of having to wait to buy another 4K Apple TV but really don’t want to have to wait for the new app to be available on that one,

I however don’t mind waiting if we have updates and regular communication from the trials team, at least you have peace of mind with what’s happening.

We can only hope it happens soon and the features they promised come to the platform, it seems such a shame that a powerful one stop box like the Apple TV is left behind when it could be a game changer for them.