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.

[Clem_Dye]

The Roku bar is not much help unless you don’t already have some sort of sound bar.

[Clem_Dye]

This is just all a load of guff. Why don’t Sky just tell us that they have no intention of updating the NowTV app. for AppleTV boxes? Fiddling around adding the odd feature here or there is no substitute for a full update including the Boost option. Once you accept that Sky sees its customers as a necessary inconvenience, albeit one that is expected to pay ever-increasing fees for a diminishing service (when the NowTV app. is compared to the  competition), then it’s easy to move on. I strongly suspect that Sky’s focus is getting its app. on smart TVs, where the operating environment is more stable and predictable compared to the ceaseless churn that is Apple’s TvOS. If there is a plan for an updated app., then publicise the fact, rather than have owners of AppleTV set in a permanent state of expectation.

[Enapace]

@Clem_Dye 

It is definitely happening probably within the next two weeks the beta will be released maybe not everything we want though.

[Anonymous User]

Don’t get me wrong I’m glad it’s happening but don’t you think it’s a big waste of time if the things that were promised aren’t delivered, I mean what have they been doing and what was the delay if the things aren’t delivered on the official release. 

[Enapace]

@Anonymous User 

I must admit i do wonder what has been happening for the last 6 months as the current beta build apart from a minor bug fix is identical to the one we got in march. I understand we have been in a pandemic but unless they are planning a big update for the public release i agree i don't get why it is only just happening. I'm going to guess it will launch around the same time as when EE TV is decactived at the end of the month. Seeing As EE are promoting Apple TV as there way to watch NowTV going forward.

[nst]

@Clem_Dye  fortunately... you'll see you are wrong soon enough.  A new version is coming for AppleTV.

@Enapace Yes, its a mystery to be fair.  Considering this should have come about at the same time Boost was released... to have to wait another 12 months on - and given that a serviceable Beta has been in circulation for months now - seems a bit strange,

My personal assumption is based on the little fact we do know.. which is that there is functionality that we were not privy to as beta testers - specifically Boost and TV app integration which we were told would be coming on the public release.

I assume that these 2 things are whats been taking the time (though why Boost would be a problem I dont understand).  But maybe theres something additional - I doubt it though as the app will not suddenly jump head and shoulders over their own NowTV stick's functionality.

So.. its coming, and boost and TV integration is probably whats caused the delay.  I just hope they get it out soon.  Im sure they will - it does feel like its close now - more than it has before.

[Enapace]

@nst 

I do wonder if Red Button is going to arrive on launch it has now launched on NowTV boxes so there is a possibility i imagine there. 

I agree with you I can't understand why Boost has delayed the launch unless it is due to the current issues with the 50FPS problems issues lately.

TV Integration maybe not as easy as it sounds but can't imagine it is the hardest thing to enable either as many apps have adopted it now. 

[MrZippy]

Boost have never been confirmed to me, only TV app integration. These things I doubt take time. The new app is barely better than the old app to be honest, it looks prettier but not really improved functionality bar the added continue watching which isn’t reliable (which I don’t think is tvOS specific).

[nst]

@MrZippy 

I disagree.  if by "the old" you are referring to the current AppleTV effort (the 5+ year old one) then if course its far more than 'barely'  better.

NowTV isnt some awesome feature rich experience... you only have to look at the NowTV stick to see the "best" we can hope for.  Its not amazing to be fair...

But at last to get a watch list and continue watching.. even though its ropey.. is a step forward.  Granted they are doing a terrible job at playing catch up to all the other premium UK streaming services and even with these changes they are behind in every way from things that we've had for years on Netflix and Amazon prime etc...

But it is Sky's "poor cousin" and it will always be hobbled and not be able to give a comparable service and quality to their premium (and very expensive) Sky Q service.

The fact we are lusting after boost.. which only gives us 1080p in 2020 is a bit embarrassing when all the other premium services manage 4K and have done for a while.

But having said that.. boost was confirmed to me... but I really dont believe anything until ive seen it.  Like most of us I hope they dont dare release it without.    If they do then I cant use it which will be so frustrating after all this effort in the Beta trial.

[Anonymous User]

Can’t agree more

[Anonymous User]

If by embarrassing you mean a complete disgrace then yes, it is embarrassing.

[Barney]

Anyone issues with scrolling up and down, like really slow?

[Anonymous User]

@Barney I got the same email. I honestly don't understand why they imagine that explanation would cause the beta testers to change their overall opinion of the app. 

[MrZippy]

Not heard anything yet.

They should have looked at UKTV play and the recent Discovery+ (was DPlay), both use the native interface. They could take a leaf out of their book. Netflix does a custom interface well, amazon is meh, and NowTV appalling!

[nst]

Interesting that the ABCD survey deadline was 2 weeks ago and still no public release.

I hope everyone was realistically objective in their critique - given that the app works etc.

Overtly critical replies from the beta testers at this stage will only cause a further delay in the public release.

Lets just get the thing released and then it can be polished over time.

[Anonymous User]

@nst

I dont think it will be to much longer, be nice if it’s released with the things that were promised

[MrZippy]

I think if this is released it will be left to fester, not be updated. The user of the Irish app stated it’s rarely updated and buggy. We know what to expect.

Luckily I’m not fussed by Sky’s content, not helped by the poor app (even the beta) for content discovery. I rarely run out of stuff on Netflix to watch and I’ve had since launched in the U.K. Whereas it’s hard to find anything to watch on nowTV, and if you have a break of a week or so it disappears from your watching list and forgets which episodes watched, how helpful!

I only have the kids pass, the interface is great for them. Although that is buggy too, say no more!

[Clem_Dye]

Yes, the app. isn’t that great. On my LG TV, the app. will simply not add 9-1-1 Lone Star to my watchlist after it disappeared on Monday. It tells me that it’s been added, but it’s MIA. But it is there on my NowTV box! I can add other shows, but not 9-1-1 Lone Star. If that’s an indication of the overall quality of the app. on Apple boxes, then there’s no hope!

[MrZippy]

Yes, set your hopes low and prepare to still be disappointed.

That’s the NowTV way!

[Anonymous User]

There are people posting that they cannot use this app unless it supports
the boost feature. I don’t understand why people are so happy to pay NOW TV
an additional £36 a year to have 1080p picture And 5.1 sound when it is a
standard feature another streaming apps that cost less.

I’d much rather the Now TV app have full native support for the Apple TV
remote control. I’ve actually come back to using the old app, Yes it’s
terrible but at least it fully supports the Apple TV remote.

[nst]

@Anonymous User 

Why "can't you understand" it?

As a paying customer of the boost pass.... for my own quite simple reasons I am "content" (but not happy) to pay the £3 premium for boost.  The difference between 720p picture quality and 1080p is significantly noticeable, and of course sound from 2.0 to 5.1 is also significantly noticeable.

Therefore... as a paying Boost subscriber  OF COURSE  I cannot use the app without boost support as I am not paying £3 a month only to be unable to view 1080p and 5.1 content and therefore I will have to stick with other apps on other devices as I do now.  I WANT my appleTV to be my one stop shop for all streaming and once NowTV is released WITH boost, then I can have it.

Whatever you use.. or would rather use is entirely up to you.  But those of us that cannot use the new app without boost are quite correct in that.

Of course... we could discuss all day long about how NowTV are behind the times when other streaming services routinely offer not only 1080p and 5.1 but also 4K.... but we would be wasting our virtual breath on that one.  And its not all services that offer it as standard - Netflix's lowest tier is not HD and for that you pay more.  One day (sooner rather than later maybe) as a point of competitive realism... NowTV will probably be forced to ditch Boost as a paid add-on and include it as standard.. but that time is yet to come.