Magnet Web TV: Watch RTE 1, RTE 2, TV3, TG4 and 3e online for free

philahern

http://www.magnetwebtv.ie/

Not sure if it's relevant to this forum but interesting development all the same. I just tried it out and it works quite well. Low quality but will fill a gap for some people.

Also, is this a way around the license fee?

Antenna

Heard about this on Newstalk technology slot 6:30-7PM on Monday.

BTW someone trying this in the USA gets:

"
Unsupported Magnet WebTV Region
Sorry but Magnet WebTV is not available in your area!
"

I assume blocked in all other countries, just curious is it available in Northern Ireland?

sesswhat

From the FAQs.

Who can register?
Any one with the capability to receive more that 1Mb of broadband connectivity to a PC or Laptop within the Republic of Ireland.

How do I subscribe for Add-on packs?
Subscriptions to Add-on packs are only available to Magnet broadband customers or Students of certain 3rd level colleges. To subscribe all you need to do is visit the Manage My TV Packages section of the Magnet WebTV service and follow the on screen instructions. To become a broadband customer of Magnet and enjoy all that Magnet has to offer visit HERE to switch today.

watty

This is a Marketing Exercise!



Avoid, this is cynical marketing exercise by the 2nd poorest PayTV provider (Homevision is poorer).

Also really poor compared to a USB DTT stick.

Real IPTV need fibre, as Magnet know. Their main official TV service is poor compared to UPC or Sky and needs either fibre, or LLU with you less than 1km from exchange.

mjsmyth

I saw this posted over in the Bargain alerts forum. Magnet have launched a web tv service with RTE 1 & 2, TV3, TG4 and 3E available for free.

Picture quality looks alright on my laptop.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056166176
https://www.magnetwebtv.ie

philahern

I don't know anything about Magnet but I don't think it's fair to compare this service to USB DTT, Sky or UPC. To me it is web streaming along the same quality as rte player. It fills a gap when you are not near your main TV or don't have access to dtt signal. E.g. If all I had access to is an internet connection and wanted to watch a six nations game live.

Tom Cruises Left Nut

Thats pretty cool !

I wonder will it stop being free at some point to drive subscriptions

watty

It's not about free streaming.

It's about Magnet Marketing.


Alternatives that don't give your info to Magnet Marketing.

http://www.rte.ie/live/

http://www.tv3.ie/

http://live.tg4.ie/



I have this on my Archos PMP also

http://www.vtuner.com/
http://vtuner.com/setupapp/guide/asp/BrowseStations/startpage.asp

There is a PC version too. 259 TV stations (Only Irish Radio, but all the Irish DAB stations).

There are many more web streams.

If you have PC or Slingbox you can setup ANY station you like at suitable quality for your local WiFi, 3G Phone or remote site.

I've had C4 mobile from my own Sky Box via Analogue capture and encoding on PC.
I've fed RTE2 at suitably low bitrate for a dialup connection in London.

There is nothing revolutionary or smart about this, it's a marketing gimmick. Also most people don't have the cap to watch much video.
30GByte cap of 1Mbps quality is 60hrs. 2Mbps is 30 hrs.

philahern

You get nothing for nothing. I personally would prefer to give my name and email to magnet for the clean interface and all stations on one site. I gave the same details to boards.ie to post this message. It's standard. I have no problem with magnet trying to sell me their broadband as part of this deal to get free tv. I won't be buying it as I have upc broadband but no problem with them trying. Also just opt out if you don't want to be contacted I don't see the problem.

philahern

watty wrote: »

Alternatives that don't give your info to Magnet Marketing.

http://www.rte.ie/live/

http://www.tv3.ie/

http://live.tg4.ie/

I tried these and tv3 isn't live? Also tg4 said "Content not available in your region" I am in Limerick. 3E doesn't have live either?

galait

philahern wrote: »

I tried these and tv3 isn't live? Also tg4 said "Content not available in your region" I am in Limerick. 3E doesn't have live either?

Absolutely agree with you , Watty's mumbo jumbo is annoying at times (Most of the time actaully)

watty

It's Crappy web video when you can get real TV for free on an Aerial. Even on a €10 USB stick on a Laptop.

People don't have the Cap to watch more than the most occasional low quality Web video.

I agree you shouldn't need a TV licence for this, because it's not TV.

Magnet are exploiting people.

philahern

I agree it's crappy web tv and I never meant for the post to imply that it is a replacement for true digital TV. I see this as a filler service for those times when you don't have access to DTT.

Most people do not have the hardware or knowledge to stream tv like this themselves and this product is for them. I don't see how magnet are exploiting people anymore than any other business that asks for login details or plasters their page with ads. They're a business for gods sake. e.g. http://live.tg4.ie/subscriber.aspx

irishchris

Have to agree with everyone here eapecially the comment about the usual mumbo jumbo. Its great idea to get the channels on the go unless watty suggests carrying an aerial on the train with you or holfing it up above your bed when watching on the laptop so thanks a mill to the original poster and also to magnet for this great FREE service

lawhec

Antenna wrote: »

I assume blocked in all other countries, just curious is it available in Northern Ireland?

Not for me anyway, same message saying I'm not in a "Supported Region"

I'll assume it's limited to RoI based IP addresses.

EDIT: Interestingly, I'm getting live streaming for the Daily Show on RTÉ1 right now which is limited to "Ireland Only", as opposed to Home & Away and Eastenders which are limited to "RoI Only".

Ghost Train

Service is free so it's there if people find it useful, watched 3e last night and it worked great.

lolie

just tried it. cassie's lookin well on 3e:)

icdg

Moved to Cable/MMDS/IPTV and merged with thread there.

slave1

I'm in a shadow so can't get terrestial broadcasts so this is a good option for me, I agree on poor quality, I don't agree on marketing info because with all of these types of offers I setup a once-off email address to activate the service then simply forget the email address so Magnet get no marketing advantage and I don't get spam...it's a step in the right direction

philahern

I usually opt out but also use a catchall email account that I can put for example magnet@myemail.com. That way I will know where it comes from if spam arrives in my inbox. Most European companies/websites obey the opt out policy, it's not a problem.

watty

I have a about 6 domains and can make imaginary working email addresses that work and delete them later.

Unfortunately Web Forum Content Spammers are expert at hotmail, gmail and yahoo etc working multiple "fake" email addresses for signup validation, but use a bot to send mail with faked headers and most ordinary folk only know how to have one email.

watty

Extra disposable emails on Hotmail for stuff like Magnet
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/02/04/hotmail_addresses/

philahern

At the risk of dragging this out I just want to add I don't think it is necessary for Magnet any more than it is necessary for boards.ie. Magnet have an opt-out and seem to be complying with Irish and European law.

watty

Why have registration at all?

philahern

watty wrote: »

Why have registration at all?

Because they are hoping that people will opt in for newsletters about Magnet offers and products. They are a business and hoping to sell. I don't see the problem. You don't expect them to give a product away for free and expect nothing in return ever?

This is standard Internet practice and allows companies to offer free products like this. I myself opt in for these types of newsletters from time to time if I think I might be interested in something they have. If I know I won't be, I opt out.

Mailinator.com, Gem i found a few years back.