ARRANGING A NEW TV DEAL - WHAT TO DO!?

[Reno]

I currently have a Panasonic Plasma TV and and overly expensive broadband/TV package from VIrgin which is long out of contract. Also still using the old VM TiVo STB which no longer receives iPlayer. It's time to change and I am keen to go for a top of the range 4K TV and a new TV/broadband package from whoever. Virgin fibre is available and full fibre via Openreach is available (overhead via a pole at the rear of my house).

Culturally I have been used to recording TV. Sometimes mainstream stuff but also less popular one off documentaries or offbeat series (e.g. relating to WWs I & II). Even as a relative layman it's not difficult to see that the trend is towards streaming TV services via the internet.

From what I read my concerns going forward include :-

i) not being able to record something unusual that I cannot watch at the time it is first broadcast

ii) not being able to later watch a sporting event that clashes with one I watch live

iii) not being able to scroll through adverts

I appreciate things move on but is the age of the STB / PVR completely dead(or will it be in the next few years)?

Given SMART TVs have so much capability within themselves(particularly at the top end) do I need a STB from an ISP at all these days?

What to do?

 

[nopiano]

The only widely available product I’m aware of that might offer recording is something from Sky. However, they are moving towards Internet delivery, as YouTube, Netflix etc rely on.

Personally, I find Now TV suits us, where you select various channels or bundles from Sky and stream it. The majority are available to replay, just as the BBC is with iPlayer and ITV is with ITV X.

If you’re unused to any streaming or iThing usage then it’s bit of a learning curve, but easy enough to get familiar with. The main snag I see is you cannot flick through channels, whereas you can with a Sky box and the accompanying Dish.

With a bit of homework, Sky would probably do a great deal if you chose their internet and TV services. But you may prefer to keep things distinct, which I tend to.

Lots of content from our hosts, such as this…https://www.whathifi.com/sky/q/review

 

[jjbomber]

I appreciate things move on but is the age of the STB / PVR completely dead(or will it be in the next few years)?

What to do?

Sky's satellite deal with SES runs until 2029, so there's still a few years left in Sky Q. It's about £10 a month extra to have Sky Q rather than Sky Stream. Is it worth it? Only you can really answer that one.
You could look at a new customer offer from Virgin if you put it in your wife's name. The other main option is BT EE.

 

[Angle Poise-Lamp]

Providing it offers the services/channels you require and, that you have a wideband LNB on your dish, you can watch one channel whilst recording 3 others with a Freesat box.

 

[Dave_]

Providing it offers the services/channels you require and, that you have a wideband LNB on your dish, you can watch one channel whilst recording 3 others with a Freesat box.

The problem with the Freesat box though is it's persistent HDR bug that Freesat/Arris refuse to acknowledge or fix.

 

[Dave_]

I currently have a Panasonic Plasma TV and and overly expensive broadband/TV package from VIrgin which is long out of contract. Also still using the old VM TiVo STB which no longer receives iPlayer. It's time to change and I am keen to go for a top of the range 4K TV and a new TV/broadband package from whoever. Virgin fibre is available and full fibre via Openreach is available (overhead via a pole at the rear of my house).

Culturally I have been used to recording TV. Sometimes mainstream stuff but also less popular one off documentaries or offbeat series (e.g. relating to WWs I & II).

Being "one off" or "off beat" isn't really the issue, it's wether the particular broadcaster has a decent on demand service.

Even as a relative layman it's not difficult to see that the trend is towards streaming TV services via the internet.

From what I read my concerns going forward include :-

[Quote[i) not being able to record something unusual that I cannot watch at the time it is first broadcast

I've been completely VOD/ Streaming for over a decade now and view a PVR as pointless box to clutter my living room these days.

ii) not being able to later watch a sporting event that clashes with one I watch live

Not been an issue with the sports I watch at least.

iii) not being able to scroll through adverts

Adverts what are they?

Seriously, they're only an issue for those that are trying to replicate linear/broadcast over IP as far is I'm concerned.

I appreciate things move on but is the age of the STB / PVR completely dead(or will it be in the next few years)?

Realistically you've got until the end of the decade.

Sky's deal ends with SES 2029 but they could extend it further, UKTV the third biggest client of SES runs until 2030...

The BBC has just proposed an all IP future from the 2030s based an a 3rd party report they commissioned on TV usage.

Given SMART TVs have so much capability within themselves(particularly at the top end) do I need a STB from an ISP at all these days?

I'd say no but it really depends on whether you're trying to replicate the past over the internet or embrace the future.

What to do?

Only you can answer that