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Vodafone launches TV Play

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 45 wytek


    I think it might be a vodafone wrapped google tv product?



  • Moderators, Regional Midwest Moderators Posts: 11,155 Mod ✭✭✭✭MarkR


    I'm currently paying 35 to vodafone for broaband, and I think about 80 per month to sky. We have multiroom for the kids with sky q, but it's been giving some issues recently. I'll report back once I've had my call back.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,944 ✭✭✭JDxtra


    As with Sky Stream, there will be no recording ability on the box itself and likely some on demand limiations.

    This also requires Vodafone broadband. The Now TV packages they are selling will not be bundled into the main Vodafone TV app, these channels will use a seperate app same as any other android TV system.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 882 ✭✭✭decor58


    Apparently its made by Sagem in conjunction with Bang & Olufsen with Google assistance built in, appears to be very well thought out.



  • Registered Users Posts: 151 ✭✭Sue de Nimes


    Here are some specs for what appears to be the same device. It looks like it has been rebranded in different markets. Orange are using the same device in some of their European markets as well.





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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 654 ✭✭✭babelfish1990


    Recording is severely limited on the Vodafone boxes, similar to Sky. In particular, BBC channels cannot be recorded - this is a major limitation in Ireland, because BBC i-Player is not available here. At least, the commercial channels generally have their players available here. While they are probably ok on "the Mainland", these UK companies do not seem to be able to localize their products properly for the Irish market.

    The Eir TV platform, which runs on Apple TV 4K is probably a better solution, and is very competitively priced at €9.99pm in-bundle for a similar selection of TV channels, with Amazon Prime Video subscription included. Eir allow unrestricted recording of BBC channels, and (although they don't advertise this) Eir do not charge any extra monthly fee if you purchase your own additional Apple TV boxes to do multi-room (The first Apple TV box comes free with the subscription). Eir TV also has an Android app, which can be used on phones with Google Chromecast etc.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,952 ✭✭✭Grumpypants


    I was trying to find out some info on it too. My main concern is how good is the android store. Will it let you install any apps you want. Xbox or steam link for example would be great.

    €25 a month is hearty for free to air channels. If you got netflix subscription included it would make it a bit better.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,761 ✭✭✭Delta2113


    What channels don’t let me record shows?

    1. RTÉ
    2. RTÉ 2
    3. RTÉ + 1
    4. RTÉ 2 + 1
    5. Channel 4
    6. E!
    7. E4
    8. E4 Extra
    9. BBC One
    10. BBC Two
    11. BBC Four
    12. BBC 2 NI
    13. More4
    14. Film 4

    It's a definite no from me.



  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 11,911 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    As people will know I’m not one for dragging up old threads (and there are good reasons for that) but in this case I will say that we did have an earlier thread back in November when this product was first launched which did answer some of the questions raised on this one. I’m not sure why it’s being launched a second time now - maybe November was a so-called “soft launch” and this is the formal launch,

    Just the re the “localisation” point raised - Vodafone doesn’t actually offer tv in the UK (never has, for whatever reason) so it’s a not guilty on that charge. The streaming limitations on recording are common to all the streaming based platforms and one of the reasons why VM went with a hard drive solution with its TV360 box despite the Horizon 4 / EOS platform being able to support cloud recording from the off. Sky’s solution to it has been novel - I’ve heard some talk their deal with BBC for on-demand content is exclusive but if so it hands them a massive advantage viz other platforms.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 654 ✭✭✭babelfish1990


    Vodafone do offer TV in the UK - https://www.vodafone.co.uk/broadband/broadband-and-tv

    They use the Apple TV box in the UK (same as Eir here), but the recording limitations are more likely to be due to restrictions on their agreements with the content providers, rather than the hardware of the box. It is not true that the streaming limitations on recording are universal to all streaming based platforms. BBC and other UK channels record unrestricted on the Eir Apple TV streaming platform. Streaming platforms are the future, and it is likely that all the hard disk platforms will be phased out soon. Apart from the convenience of streaming and cloud storage for the end user, the TV providers have greater control of the advertising with streaming - and this is likely to be the driver for most of them (apart from BBC, who carry no advertising). It seems likely that Vodafone & Sky have not bothered to negotiate separate agreements with the UK based content providers for their Irish customer base, and this is probably the reason that their Irish customers cannot record. It is mainly a problem for watching BBC, as the players can be used to catch up on the other channels.



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  • Registered Users Posts: 151 ✭✭Sue de Nimes



    Regarding Vodafone and TV in the UK. They have been offering a "TV Package" for years now. What it is though is just an Apple TV Device without any Vodafone customisation. Most of the non Irish channels on the Irish Vodafone TV offering are free to air in the UK. In Ireland I think most people who are in the market for something like a non premium TV service from a phone company (such as Eir or Vodafone) really just want to be able to get the UK terrestrial channels (BBC, ITV, C4 etc). You can only get these in Ireland with some sort of "TV Package". This market just doesn't exist in the UK as the channels are all free to air anyway.

    EE do offer a TV service but it has an Apple TV option with an app which is the most common. The UK has Freeview, Youview and Freesat which offer subscription free recording of a wide range of "basic" channels for a fairly small single up front cost.



  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 11,911 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    I think it seems clear there that all Vodafone UK are offering is the easy purchase of an Apple TV box and a 24 month subscriptions to Apple TV+. Unlike eir here, they’re not actually offering a cable TV-like service through it. There’s no linear channel offering. It’s no different in terms of content to if you picked up an Apple TV from the Apple Store and took out an Apple TV subsciption after your three month free trial elapsed. No content is being provided by or through Vodafone.

    There were heavy restrictions on recording when eir TV first launched. If they are now all gone that’s great, but it’s not true to say there were never any restrictions - have a read through the eir tv thread in this very forum and you will see the problems that were encountered. As late as October 2023 you could not record RTE.



  • Registered Users Posts: 23 done123


    It is correct you cannot record RTE or Virgin Media channels on Eir tv, but all the other channels can be recorded. RTE and Virgin media channels can be rewatched up to 7 days. Both RTE and Virgin Media have there players on apple TV. I am very happy with eir TV overall, with 43 HD channels, with hope that agreement can be got with Irish channels to record them also.



  • Registered Users Posts: 736 ✭✭✭BuzzFish


    Just a note for those considering this. I has the install booked today and had to send it away after the installers contacted support when the box wouldn't pick up my account. Turned out that the TV box will only work with the Vodafone Modem as they need to activate some IPTV setting on the modem itself. I have a UniFi network at home, including the SecureGateway (which is connected to the Fiber terminator).

    So if looking to get this product, bear in mind you'll be stuck with the Vodafone router.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 882 ✭✭✭decor58


    It looks as if this box, in one form or another, has been around for a while in other countries. Made by Sagem labelled as a Sagemcom video soundbox, there are a number of YouTube videos on various branded boxes.



  • Registered Users Posts: 151 ✭✭Sue de Nimes


    Oh yes, the offering from Vodafone UK is pretty basic which is why I said stuck TV package in quotation marks :)



  • Moderators, Regional Midwest Moderators Posts: 11,155 Mod ✭✭✭✭MarkR


    Good to know, I still have the VF modem for telephone services, but a mesh network coming off it. If the tv box needs to connect directly to the modem that would be a pain.



  • Registered Users Posts: 9 BBBBBBBB9999


    So far, a giant thumbs down. Hope to return the box and revert to my old TV box.

    What I don't like -

    1 - I think the speaker sounds terrible. With the prior box, I output the sound via a simple RCA jack to an Amazon Echo speaker, which actually sounds pretty decent for what it is. I was excited to see the TV Play box arrive as it had a B&O speaker. Oof, it sounds awful. I changed the simple sound options on the box and it still sounded terrible. If you watch / listen to your TV with a proper sound bar or similar setup and don't need the speaker, this won't be a big deal. But considering the TV Play box doesn't have an audio jack input, I can't use it with my Echo, hence this new box is a pretty massive sound downgrade for me.

    2 - As mentioned above, several channels aren't recordable, including one I record all the time. So that's a real problem.

    3 - Obviously remotes can be a bit of personal preference, but in my view the new remote that comes with the TV Play is another fail. The prior remote actually words on some of the buttons (Guide, Recordings, Exit, Info, Menu, Options). The new remote lacks that clarity and is likely to be an issue for my wife or others that aren't familiar with the remote.

    4 - Again, maybe personal preference and maybe something I'd get used to - but the on-screen menu is terrible as well. Hard to read the channel names and I haven't found a way to set up a personal profile (yet at least).

    Other problems -

    5 - When we "upgraded" to TV Play because we were out of contract and the sales guy at the store said the new box would be cheaper, he didn't even mention that we'd be getting a new cable box. Not cool. (We were actually in to discuss our cell plan, the sales guy is the one who brought up our TV plan. That wasn't even on our agenda.)

    6 - At first connection, the TV Play box didn't connect with our account. Took them a week to sort that out. But they forgot to put our Sky Sports package on. (And it's Friday in front of a big sports weekend!)

    7 - When they transferred our account to the new TV Play box, for some reason they canceled our Sky Sports add on. No idea why. Guessing just an error when the sales guy renewed our contract.

    8 - The new box doesn't have any of our prior recorded shows on it (I guess makes sense if the recordings are on the hard drive of the boxes themselves). But because the sales guy didn't tell us we'd be getting a new box and nobody explained clearly that we'd lose access to these recordings, well, that's a bunch of shows we're not going to get to watch now (including a bunch of one-offs).

    So, all in all, not to happy with the TV Play box nor how this all went down.

    Post edited by BBBBBBBB9999 on


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 11,911 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    Can you even get Sky Sports on this package? My reading of the material is that, like eir TV, they are pointing you towards Now TV for Sky content.

    Now TV has its advantages (follow the bargain alerts thread and it can be ridiculously cheap) but it has its disadvantages and lack of recording is the major one. If you’re an NFL fan you won’t be able to record prime time games and will have to make do with the highlights (and to be fair Sky do 45 minutes highlights packages and put them up the next day).

    I presume this box is completely WiFi driven and doesn’t need a physical connection to the router? Otherwise the speaker feature would be daft (it’s a bit left field as it is).



  • Registered Users Posts: 9 BBBBBBBB9999


    I was wondering about that, since I clicked on the Now channel and it seemed to bring up Sky Sports options. But nobody from Vodafone explained that's how we have to get Sky Sports going forward with the new box.

    And yes, pretty much a deal killer if can't record the NFL games.

    Don't know how all this works, but wonder if that's how Vodafone is able to offer this box cheaper than a lot of competitors (from what I've read). They either have to pay higher licensing fees (which would allow for recording channels) and pass that cost to consumers, or don't pay those fees (and thus customers can't record those channels) but cost of product is lower. (Again, I don't know if my thinking is right, just postulating.)

    I'd rather be able pay a little more so I could record all channels, otherwise this is all going backwards. What's the point of a DVR if you can't, you know, record things. Heck, 30-40 years ago I could record all my channels, using a VCR. So these restrictions make little sense on the consumer side.

    Post edited by BBBBBBBB9999 on


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  • Registered Users Posts: 9 BBBBBBBB9999


    The list is actually a bit longer than that - I just checked the Vodafone website.

    What channels don’t let me record shows?

    1. RTÉ One
    2. RTÉ 2
    3. RTÉ + 1
    4. RTÉ 2 + 1
    5. Channel 4
    6. E4
    7. E4 Extra
    8. BBC One
    9. BBC Two
    10. BBC Four
    11. BBC 2 NI
    12. More4
    13. Film 4
    14. Sky Sci-Fi
    15. RTÉ News
    16. BBC News
    17. Sky News
    18. CNN
    19. Sky Sports Racing
    20. RTÉ Jr
    21. CBBC
    22. Cbeebies
    23. MTV Music
    24. 4Music
    25. The Box Music
    26. Magic
    27. Kerrang
    28. Kiss


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 11,911 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    One other Q that list raises.

    It seems they have both BBC Two network and NI.

    Is BBC One just Network (ie London) then?



  • Registered Users Posts: 9 BBBBBBBB9999


    I tried the most recent voucher code (NOW12MSMP15R) and it worked - €15/mo. for first 6 months. So that's fine,

    BUT the experience of watching Sky Sports vs. this NOW app to me is far inferior vs. the way it was. Primarily, before I could just view the program guide and see what was on at the moment, regular channels plus Sky Sports channels. Now I have to view program guide for regular channels and then open the separate app and view what is on Sky Sports. Clunky. Plus, when I'm watching a Sky Sports channel, I can't just open the regular program guide to see what else is on. I have to actually close the Now app in order to get back to 'TV'. And even when I'm in the app, on the program guide if I want to see what is on the schedule later on or tomorrow ... nope, can't do that. It literally only shows what is on right now plus what's next. NOTHING ELSE. The whole user experience for this is just inconvenient and not conducive to a seamless experience.

    Post edited by BBBBBBBB9999 on


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 11,911 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    Leaving aside the user experience (and I don’t mean to say that’s not important) Its a worrying trend by Sky from a competitive point of view if they are phasing out their wholesale deals, in favour of pointing people to Now TV, which is a first party service after all. With first eir and now Vodafone losing their wholesale deals it leaves VM the only third party provider of Sky premium services here and how long will that last?



  • Registered Users Posts: 9 BBBBBBBB9999


    For Now TV, from what I've just read on Switcher.com, apparently picture quality is 'Full HD', which is lower quality than the former Sky Stream product which was 4K Ultra HD.

    And even then, from what I can tell, you only get 'Full HD' if you pay extra for the Now Boost add-on.

    You can get a free 7-day trial of boost when you sign up to Now, but according to the Switcher.com article, 'you can't get Now Boost if you've only got Sports mobile membership.' As I'm watching via my TV, not mobile, don't know if this applies and my trial will auto cancel after 7 days, or if I'll be able to keep it because I'm using my TV. That said, pretty cr*ppy that you have to pay extra just to get 'Full HD', which is not even top end.



  • Registered Users Posts: 9 BBBBBBBB9999


    And you can't pause live sports programming with Now TV.

    It's like they've taken all the technological advances of the past 20 years (recording, pause and fast forward, higher picture quality, 7-day program guides) and just rolled them back like they don't exist.

    Post edited by BBBBBBBB9999 on


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 11,911 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    You should, in principle, be able to pause and rewind live tv on Now on Apple TV. My experience is that it doesn’t really work very well.

    In fairness to Now, it’s meant to be a budget alternative, which is why I was surprised when it became the go-to for Sky channels for eir and now Vodafone customers in lieu of a proper wholesale deal (which both had on their previous platforms).

    Sky Sports Mobile Only passes aren’t available any more, so it’s unlikely you have it if you just signed up. My recollection is that it’s not even all the Sky Sports channels on that pass.



  • Registered Users Posts: 9 BBBBBBBB9999


    I didn't know that about Now

    if they want to offer a budget product, fine - but when it's the only offering, it's not really a budget 'alternative', it's just your only option, you can't choose anything else

    I'd be cool if they offered tiers so I could get the features I've gotten used to for x years, but they don't



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,804 ✭✭✭✭kippy


    Just a bit of an update here.

    I have the "old" vodafone box. The boss tends to record a lot and watch later. Benefits of no adds watch when you want, good interface, series link etcetc

    If I retain that box will go back on the crazy dear package. Rang today to discuss options. Apparantly there's no option to retain the existing box. They'll let the contract roll over but will be paying top dollar.Alternative is to renew and get their "new upgraded" box with all the limitations that provdes for 55 a month (also with 500MB) broadband.

    So rock and hard place with no option to go back to old box.

    Did you get the option to revert back to your old hardware in the end?



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  • Registered Users Posts: 9 BBBBBBBB9999


    Nope. Basically got jammed by them and only 2 choices are to either keep the new TV Play box or cancel tv service altogether. Once you get a new box there is no rolling back to old box. I've tried several avenues and they're not budging from this.

    I think when they put us back on contract the savings was like €20 per mo. I really only watch 3 channels, mostly by recording and then watching when I can. With the new box, 2 of those channels are blocked from recording. So for me, I'm not sure the saving was worth it and my tv service is now virtually (almost) worthless given what I watch and how I use it.

    re: your situation, I'm confused - are you still able to use your old box? but are just out of contract? we were out of contract for over a year I think, didn't really seem to matter if we were on or off (meaning, nothing happened when we rolled off)

    the only reason we went back on contract is because we went into the local Vodafone store to discuss cell phone options and sales guy noticed our tv was off contract and he said he could save us some money by signing a new contract - seemed like a simple decision so we said yes, but he never mentioned we'd have to use a new box, not cool - if I had known that, probably would have stayed with old box as we were happy with it and don't like the features and restrictions of the new box



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,804 ✭✭✭✭kippy


    Still able to use old box. Contract up next month. Have been paying less than fifty bucks for BB and TV. Due to go up to 85. Rang up to negotiate. Advised no negotiation available on 'old' platform. Fee is 85 and likely service due to be stopped at any point. I can go onto 'upgraded' TV platform for 50 bucks for first 4 months, 55 for next 2 months and 65 thereafter.

    Tbh if I was forced to use an inferior TV product I would probably switch to Work as there are more channels recordable on their TV service and what looks like a better piece of hardware for what I can tell is a better initial prize.

    Any advice welcome but paying 85 bucks a month ain't an option



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,210 ✭✭✭fitzparker


    Got this during the week. I hate it already.

    Pro's: my TV isn't smart so the preloaded apps are good. Means no need for firestick or alternative. Coverage to my daughters room was never good so old VF box never worked nore did smart stick. This works perfect for her as she watches most things on apps

    That is really it for pro's

    Cons:

    Tv guide is terrible

    Bot being able to record some channels is terrible BBC and C4 being 80% of my recordings

    Sports on now TV means i can't record (I mainly only record UFC as its on at 3am )

    I actually haven't got it yet, still waiting a week for them to set it up

    Not being able to record channel 4 is a big one as 70% of my recordings are on this. Also you can't get All4 app so it's a major pain.

    Programme searching is terrible.

    I think the sound isn't great and reverted back to it coming out of my TV

    ------------

    I have 3 boxes (so 2 multirooms) im going to see if the old box still works. If so ill keep the 2 mulitrooms and continue the old box in the main room


    If not I'm going to try return it and go back to the old box as it's not fir for purpose in my home at all



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 654 ✭✭✭babelfish1990


    Useful summary. Restriction on not being able to record BBC is a major limitation, because BBC i-Player is not available in Ireland. Unlike Vodafone, the Eir streaming box (Apple TV 4K) allows unrestricted cloud recording of BBC & C4, and the All4 app also works on it. Only RTE & VM are restricted from recording with eir, and they have some availability on the catch-up feature, as well as their players. Eir also allow you to add additional multi-room boxes without paying the multi-room fee, if you buy them yourself, so the total monthly fee for TV remains at €9.99 per month. All the TV providers seem to be moving away from the legacy boxes with unrestricted hard-disk recording. Eir was the first, but Sky, Vodafone & VM have followed, and it is is probably only a matter of time before they force users off the legacy boxes. The commercial channels don't want to lose the revenue from adverts, so they will likely find a way of forcing you to watch the ads or charge a premium rate to go ad free. The streaming platforms can also localize the adverts more accurately than traditional cable or satellite distribution.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,507 ✭✭✭galtee boy


    Sky won't get rid of Q anytime soon, too big an earner for them, but the cost of streaming provided by a few good servers somewhere, is I presume the hell of a lot cheaper than the cost of keeping satellites running thousands of miles in space, so I agree, eventually, all tv will be via broadband, when every house has 1GB broadband available to them , this won't be an issue, but they need to sort out something with RTE, Virgin, BBC and CH4 and these channels big dislike for cloud recording.



  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 11,911 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    Sky has its space on Astra leased through to 2028



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,507 ✭✭✭galtee boy


    2028 only 4 years away, I wonder when Sky's option to renew beyond 2028 is due ? I don't think they'll ditch satellite in favour of streaming as soon as 2028.



  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 11,911 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    I don’t either. Right now Stream is exclusively targetted at new customers, they’re doing nothing to encourage the existing customer base to move over, the only way I think they will be able to do it is to offer substantial discounts to Stream customers. An even bigger issue will be how to move over the huge commercial customer base as they typically have a business requirement to keep multiple tvs in sync which satellite is great for but streaming less so. Vodafone and eir don’t really have that issue as they don’t really target that market for TV, VM does but is a much smaller player in it than Sky.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,210 ✭✭✭fitzparker


    I tried to switch back to old box and told I can't.. missed a weekend of sports as now TV wasn't added yet

    I'd only go to Sky other than Vodafone ( preference) but dont want a satellite either on the house as it means a wire being drilled in

    I have been reading about Sky stream but am I right in saying you cannot record on this?



  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 11,911 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    We are at risk of turning this into a Sky thread at this stage (and I appreciate the recording Q is being asked across the Vodafone/eir/Sky threads and I’m not sure if there’s something we can do to organise that better - maybe a sticky?). But to answer the Q.

    Sky Stream works on the basis of a “playlist” feature. You don’t record things you add them to your Playlist. If the channel has a catch up service (this includes BBC on Sky Stream) and the programme is available on that service a link to it will be created. If not, you may still be able to access a cloud recording, if the channel allows it, once the programme has aired linearly. I believe this feature is available on most channels that don’t have a catch up service but I am not sure if there’s a list someone as Sky are trying to make it seem seamless, as if it shouldn’t matter what the source is. Unfortunately the limitations on BBC catch up in particular do mean it does matter.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 654 ✭✭✭babelfish1990


    Your limited preferences appear to have ruled out any available options that allow recording! Vodafone won't allow you keep their legacy box, which previously allowed recording. Sky don't allow recording on Stream, but you don't want a dish. Your preference for Sky or Vodafone only has ruled out Eir TV on the Apple TV 4k box - the only Streaming platform that currently allows unrestricted recording of UK channels, and also supports apps such as Now TV, All4 etc. It looks like you will need to relax your preferences if you want a solution? It is an interesting dilemma - which most other users have not analysed quite as clearly - but it is likely to be a choice faced by most in the coming years.



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  • Registered Users Posts: 9 BBBBBBBB9999


    I went through this process a couple weeks ago (as you can see in some of the prior threads). For the NOW service, you just sign up (I did it online) and it should come on pretty much immediately. You have to do it yourself, they don't do it for you (nobody told me this, I just had to figure it out myself).



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,210 ✭✭✭fitzparker


    Got NowTV sorted, my order wasn't "complete", as soon as it was "NOWTV" dropped in, I am kind of coming around to it, specifically as I have no choice really.

    For the channels that cant be recorded (BBC there is nothing that can be done) my workaround for example C4 is to save the programme we like as a favourite and its sort of a reminder to go onto All4 to watch it. Although you cant get the all4 app so I need to switch to the firestick to do it.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 654 ✭✭✭babelfish1990


    That all sounds very messy, and still does not give you a solution for recording BBC.

    In my view, the BBC channels are the only channels that currently justify paying for a TV bundle, since the BBC i-Player is not available in Ireland, and the BBC have some excellent programmes and no adverts. You could get Now TV, All4, RTE player etc on working smoothly on a good streaming platform such as Apple TV 4K, by buying a box and without paying anyone for any live TV bundle. I would happily pay for BBC i-Player if it was available here as a separate subscription, but €9.99 per month for eir TV seems to be the best way of getting the ability to record BBC without restrictions. I would expect Vodafone to lose customers if they are forced to put up with all those restrictions.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,210 ✭✭✭fitzparker


    It isn't too messy TBH, adding a channel as a favorite, then watching it back on its streaming platform ( its just there as a reminder)

    But I agree, not being able to record on their "new and improved TV platform" is a major block and the main reason customers will leave/not join, so I presume in the near future this will be fixed.



  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 11,911 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    Don’t presume it will be fixed in the “near future”. It’s been (mostly) fixed on Eir, but they had a four year headstart on their streaming platform (around since 2019!) over Sky and Vodafone.

    TLDR: it will (probably) be fixed eventually, but not tomorrow.



  • Registered Users Posts: 23 done123


    When I got eir Tv in 2019, it was really bad too, unable to record, It is interesting that you can record Virgin media channels on Vodafone TV play, not on eir tv atm. The more competitions the better for all consumers.



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,468 ✭✭✭jogdish


    Hi,

    Have Gigabit fibre with vodafone and thinking of adding their TV - the guy in the shop was not great on details but this is what I was hoping to get an answer on:

    If I get the TV box, does it connect to the existing vodafone router via a ethernet cable ? (supplied? how long? )

    I run a second router off my vodafone one for home networking, would this effect the set up ?

    The guy in the shop was convinced everything worked over bluetooth for the TV, I assume he is wrong and no interest in showing him up so didn't push the matter. Was hoping someone here might know ?



  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 11,911 Mod ✭✭✭✭icdg


    Merged



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 654 ✭✭✭babelfish1990


    Be very careful - read the reviews above. Fitzparker wrote a very comprehensive review #33 - there are a lot of issues with Vodafone TV Play, and you can't "downgrade" to their legacy box if you sign up for the new box. The main problems relate to inability to record channels. The only service that you are allowed to record is VM! This is particularly an issue for BBC channels, since BBC i-Player is not available in Ireland. The Vodafone box also does not run the All4 app for the Channel4 suite of channels. The boxes can be connected either on Ethernet or WiFi, so that is not an issue. The multiroom service is €10 per month per box extra plus €99 extra installation per box. This doesn't compare well with eir's TV streaming platform, which is €9.99pm for multichannel service, with the first Apple TV 4K box and no extra monthly or installation charges for multiroom if you buy your own multiroom boxes (eir sell refurbished boxes for €59.99 on their eir Store site). The Apple TV box used by Eir is better than the Vodafone one, and has good sound output options, and works well over WiFi. It is also not proprietary, so you can continue to use it afterwards if you move away from eir. Eir allow unrestricted recording of UK channels, including BBC, and all the player apps including All4 app, but RTE & VM do not allow cloud recording, and you have to use the catch-up feature, or their players. Regarding your question about routers - it is not good practice to have a second router on your network. This could cause problems with double-natting etc. If you need to extend WiFi, you should use additional Access Points, or a Mesh system without an additional router.



  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 25,010 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    My contract with Vodafone expired in October last year, I rang up to get a new deal and locked in for 12 more months.

    Was told on the phone I'd need a new TV box but not why. Kept getting texts saying their was a new box being issued to me soon but there was an issue.

    Bills started getting charged at a out of contract rate leaving me to ring them every month for them to credit the difference, they said the reason why my contracted rate was I haven't accepted the new box yet, I was like ye never sent me one.

    Eventually they sent me a TV Play box but it won't pick up my account, someone has to manually add it to the system and remove the old box, that was 3 weeks ago, and after reading the reviews above I hope they forget about it. I re-newed on 6th of October so this issue has now been going on 4 months now.

    When I rang 3 months ago to say the new box is not working I did ask why did I get sent this box I was happy with the old one they said we are phasing out the old boxes eventually it will stop working so everyone will have to move and the new one is cheaper, now I see why it is.



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