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.

[nst]

@ReadyPlayer2 

Believe me, a lot of us are surprised.  I was never this cynical but the fact ive been working on the beta for months, and then get an app that was promised as one thing, but delivered as another means that I cannot use it and have to resort to the fire stick version.  Huge waste of my time and that of many of the beta testers.  With boost as an example I know that many, if not all of the beta testers reported the lack of boost way back in march the moment the first beta was released.  The trials team made a point of telling us to stop reporting it as they knew.. and that it would be implemented on release.... an 8 months later regardless it was released half baked.

Ive been contributing to the forum but mostly this thread for over a year, and I was hoping that the final release would mean things would settle down and this thread be left to wither and die but of course its just been Renewed with gusto given what we've been delivered.

Personally, and I know that not everyone fully agrees, I think that delivering boost without 5.1 yet charging full price for it is beyond cheeky, and to continue to label the shows and movies accessed via the app as 5.1 is a trades description issue and frankly illegal.

As ive said before.. delivering a 1080p picture without 5.1 sound seems nonsensical, especially when talking about movies.

I guess its all about choice.  I totally understand how in your position you are happy with the high quality big players being in 4K and Atmos etc... and accepting that NowTV content is just 720 and 2.0 - I guess it all comes down to what you watch.

[Anonymous User]

@ReadyPlayer2

We’re are you getting the deals
From I can’t seem to get any at the moment I personally need an entertainment offer and I will soon need a movies offer

[Anonymous User]

Cancel your subscription and on the second confirmation they offer discounts

[MrZippy]

Or use Clubcard vouchers whilst they’re still available. My kids pass is on an offer and paid for with Clubcard vouchers. So free!

[AlexB83]

I am surprised some would think they wouldn't charge full price for boost despite it missing 5.1, a number of devices don't support 50fps (which for some reason people never mention) yet they still charge full price for that. I also don't think boost is a terrible deal, to get an extra sky go stream with sky Q is £5 and to get hd is £5 plus you can watch it on TV in multirooms which is also sky multirooms. I've just got a fire stick to watch it on my LG TV because of the frame rate and the Apple TV is on my second tv. Also I would say that I have never once paid full price for a now tv pass due to various offers.

Now I'm not saying that 5.1 shouldn't be there or the app couldn't be improved but I'm actually more optimistic about the future of the app and I would pay the £3 boost for 50fps to watch F1 as that is such a huge difference

[waldopepper]

Ah OK weird, the Pause button now works for me, didn't yesterday at all!  Tapping doesn't work for me but at least the button does. Thx

[ReadyPlayer2]

The deals just come through from NowTV via email.  I got 3 months half-price sports just in time for the start of the F1 (obviously then moved to full price for the rest) and just now got the half-price movie deal in time for Christmas.  

I'm sure it's obvious to Sky that NowTV subscribers are in it for the flexibility over anything else (as otherwise, you'd go SkyHD/Q presumably?) so I just make the most of cancelling my subscriptions until I get a good offer through.

[ReadyPlayer2]

Not always!  Cancelled sports and NowTV pretty much said "bye sucker - you'll be back..."

And they were right. 😂

[AlexB83]

Is there not a £25 a month deal for 6 months offer for sky sports on the front page of now tv? I did this as my existing offer was coming to an end and worked ok for me 

[gavs82008]

@AlexB83 

Indeed, my sports deal came to an end and only got a new deal by using the “offers” section on the main page

https://www.nowtv.com/offers

 

[Anonymous User]

I have a 5.1 set up (Dolby Atmos capable) and NOW TV have sent me a NowTV
cinema offfer that £5.99 a month for 6 months but there’s no chance I’m
taking the offer without 5.1 sound.

It’s bad enough slumming it with 720p picture and stereo sound on the
entertainment pass but I refuse to watch films without 5.1 sound. It’s too
much of a compromise and films sound empty and lifeless without 5.1 sound.

[nst]

@AlexB83 

As one of those "some" i'm equally surprised that you think we should be content to pay for something and to get not the full set of features.

I agree with you, 50fps is also a missing feature on some platforms.

The key difference here is that there is a technical reason why those platforms cannot support the 50fps - processor power or speed etc etc.  I would go so far as to say that if you do use an older platform then you should not be surprised at its limitations.  There is literally NO reason the appleTV cannot support a 5.1 soundtrack and its omission seems suspiciously arbitrary frankly.

... with that logic you are suggesting that someone should buy a brand new car and be charged full price with its wheels missing.

I am not disputing or debating the boost pass value for money, usefulness etc - I am however irritated at missing out on 5.1 when it is quite able to be supported on the platform.... and also NowTV's hiding of this fact by continuing to label content with the 5.1 tag and hoping that people wont notice.  That is indefensible.

As @Anonymous User  quite rightly mentions.. if you have a 5.1 sound system then you really do want your content, particularly movies to have that 5.1 soundtrack - especially in 2020!  As much as I struggle to understand NowTV's logic in providing boost with 1080p but NOT 5.1, I appreciate that a lot out there don't care depending on their sound setups.

[Enapace]

@nst 

I think we have seen this all year though that platforms have got certain features and others haven't we. 50FPS lack of support or bonus stream lack of support or 5.1 with AppleTV though even if it did have 5.1 support i would prefer the app on the firestick i picked up the last few days.

I hope in 2020 they start to converge the platforms so it's not just select platforms that get all the features for example the full rollout of sports on demand which will happen early next year. 

[Anonymous User]

@Enapace

That would be a nice touch, I keep hoping we’re all just jumping the gun and the updates will sort everything out, but I do think I’m just peeing in the wind if I’m honest

[AlexB83]

@nst 

You say about older platforms but my LG TV is 13 months old where as my Apple TV is 4 years old. 

If they charged different amounts per exact feature you would get into an absurd situation of so many different prices per boost.

Also for those who don't have a 5.1 system are you advocating they should pay less because they can't take advantage of that feature? 

[Enapace]

@Anonymous User 

I've said though recently I got a Firestick 4K when it was on sale just after they announced the app support and have been using past few days and unless they fix the UI issues with the Apple TV app it will be how I view NowTV going forward beyond a doubt as it just works better for me.

[nst]

@AlexB83 

Not at all.

Im saying that the hardware you choose to purchase to enhance your viewing and listening experience is purely personal preference.

What I am saying is that a paid for add on feature that is advertised as providing sound, and picture upgrades should do just that and not one or the other as in my opinion 50fps is one thing.. and arguably only relevant on sports content... but 1080p and 5.1 especially with movies go hand in hand and its just plain weird offering one without the other.

I would advocate offering boost fully, or not at all.

As I say, I can understand technical limitations for 50fps, but not 5.1.  And the relative age of the platform is kindof irrelevant - a TV with built in hardware and software is not the same as a dedicated set top box from a company such as apple.  the current situation is that the AppleTV 4K and HD... which have been out for years unchanged... are MORE than capable of 1080p and 5.1... so why not support it?!

[AlexB83]

@nst 

The problem with having it fully or not at all is you are ignoring the fact that people get boost for different reasons. HD nearly everyone can benefit from as most have an hd tv these days, 50fps many can benefit from this but clearly not everyone and mostly aimed at sports fans, an extra stream again some may not benefit from this at all but for some this is literally the most important part of boost. 5.1 audio is likely to be the most niche as you need the most specific equipment for it. So it should be up to the individual if boost is worth it to them. 

So for example you might get someone with an LG TV who loves HD loves 5.1 sound but has no interest in sports so it doesn't matter to them if it has 50fps but because 50fps is not supported on LG then they wouldn't have access to Boost at all 

[nst]

@AlexB83 

Im not ignoring anything.

As ive said before if people do not have a 5.1 system then of course they purchase boost FULLY in the knowledge that they will not have a use for one of its components.

You are ignoring people in my position.  I have a 5.1 system, and im purchasing boost specifically to give me a 5.1 soundtrack and 1080p picture!

My use case is just as valid as theirs.  I am paying for a service that promises 1080p and 5.1 amongst other things.  Thats what im paying for.

Genuinely fine with those who pay for 5.1 and don't use it as they don't have the kit... that's their choice.  The key thing being that they entered into that with their eyes wide open and knowing full well what they were getting.  I too entered into this with my eyes wide open and knowing what I wanted from the service..... however I find myself now having to dig around juggling platforms and apps to ensure that I am getting the boost service and features that I am paying for... I feel quite justified in moaning that the AppleTV app does not support 5.1.

I don't know if you were in the beta programme.  I was.  And my frustrations are also borne from the fact ive just come out of an 8 month test trial having been assured that we would get boost (proper).... 

Im not here to bicker with you... I can see both sides.  As I have said to you I agree with what you are saying and I agree with your side of the debate.... I can see why some people are content.. but id ask you to also see why some are not.

[AlexB83]

@nst 

I'm not bickering I just think a lot of people would like some boost features available rather than none at all and then people are free to choose if they are important enough to buy the pass. 

I understand it's disappointing when a feature you want is not available and like I said I bought an Amazon fire 4k stick because 50fps wasn't supported on LG and also because they don't have a BT sport app on LG. 

So let's hope 5.1 is added soon so everyone is happy and there is no need for this debate 

[Anonymous User]

I think what nowtv should do straight away for excising boost subscribers and ones who haven’t got it is to have the option. If you want 5.1 sound and enhanced picture quality it’s £3. If you just want the picture quality it’s £1.50. It’s really not very hard to put that into place. I fully understand where @nstis coming from I myself was part of the beta trial. Nowtv have just completely ignored us and released an updated app that is simply shocking. Many in here have resorted back to the old green app for voice support.  As you say it’s a personnel preference but nowtv could make things a lot easier by updating thus app with regular updates and give customers the option of 5.1 or picture quality.