UPC On Demand Movies

Technocentral · 26-05-2012 12:28PM #1

Surprised no ones mentioned this yet, has been available since yesterday, I know its brand new but they're offering a v poor selection of about 40 - 50 films at the moment. Prices start at 1.99 "rental" per film for 48 hours access right up to a whopping 5.99 for new releases! I didn't see anything that caught my fancy and there is no way that people will pay 6 euro for rental imo.

Ape X · 26-05-2012 12:33PM

Yeah, wouldn't be too enamoured with it on first showing. Also, someone told me they have two prices for movies... one regular, and a more expensive one for the HD version?

Technocentral · 26-05-2012 12:39PM

Ape X wrote: »

Yeah, wouldn't be too enamoured with it on first showing. Also, someone told me they have two prices for movies... one regular, and a more expensive one for the HD version?

Yeah so do Itunes etc, v cynical alright, as the encoding of the files to either HD or SD costs f*ck all.

krudler · 26-05-2012 12:55PM

the price differencing between SD and HD is stupid alright, you've already paid more to have a HD tv or monitor or whatever, now you have to pay extra to watch the file in its natural quality, nonsense

Dodge · 26-05-2012 12:59PM

There's times i'd pay €5 for a rental, particularly if I didn't have to move off my fat arse. How much are Sky's offerings? According to UPC when it's fully operational they'll have films at the same time as the likes of xtravision

The prices are €1.99 for 'old' movies, €4.99 for SD 'new releases' and €5.99 for HD 'new releases'.

Oh and the MGM on demand channel has old films for free. Including the likes of Platoon...

Technocentral · 26-05-2012 01:05PM

The MGM thing is good, though they replay all their stuff all the time anyway, the free aspects of on demand are very good though, like RTE Player and 3 Player, the picture quality is much better than the net versions as its using the UPC tv quality feed as opposed to the net versions. I might pay 4.50 for a HD movie the odd time but never 6.

ozmo · 27-05-2012 09:32PM

Dodge wrote: »

There's times i'd pay €5 for a rental, particularly if I didn't have to move off my fat arse. How much are Sky's offerings? According to UPC when it's fully operational they'll have films at the same time as the likes of xtravision

The prices are €1.99 for 'old' movies, €4.99 for SD 'new releases' and €5.99 for HD 'new releases'.

Oh and the MGM on demand channel has old films for free. Including the likes of Platoon...

Just had a play with it today in another house - not available where I live.

Remember to set a pin code for purchasing films - esp with kids, babysitters etc... in the house.

OldeCinemaSoz · 27-05-2012 09:44PM

The local Xtra has squeezed down it's shelves
from 3 to 2 for bluray.

Isn't Sky's pricing lower for new HD films on demand
than Xtra's rentals?

ozmo · 27-05-2012 11:18PM

OldeCinemaSoz wrote: »

The local Xtra has squeezed down it's shelves
from 3 to 2 for bluray.

Isn't Sky's pricing lower for new HD films on demand
than Xtra's rentals?

Blueray is far better quality than SKY or UPC - if you have a semi-decent tv to watch it.

Plus you get the extras - making of - commentries etc that can make a So-so film better when you listen to the effort involved in making it...

The ondemand is great and all - but Id rather pay for a hire of a real blueray than a download the price being equal.

BarackPyjama · 27-05-2012 11:52PM

Poor selection. HD is overpriced. Must try harder.

Sleepy · 28-05-2012 09:23AM

As long as the broadband I also buy from UPC can provide these free via torrents, I can't see anyone paying that kind of money for their on-demand service...

An extra tenner a month or so on the bill a la Netflix and with a good selection of stuff and I'd consider it but not in a "pay per movie" format.

Myrddin · 28-05-2012 09:50AM

Sleepy wrote: »

As long as the broadband I also buy from UPC can provide these free via torrents, I can't see anyone paying that kind of money for their on-demand service...

To be fair, I don't think they're trying to win over people who pirate films for free. More so, trying to provide a legitimate service.

Having the basic sub, the amount of content available to me seems quite minimal. Someone elsewhere mentioned the box sets are meant to be free, but I always get a not subscribed message. So RTE Player & 3 Player are all that's really working for me.

It seems poor, but it's not costing me, so I don't really care.

Sad Professor · 28-05-2012 11:02AM

I agree that 5.99 to rent a HD film is ridiculous, but in fairness UPC don't have any control over the price. All these premium digital download services operate on the agency model, which means the copyright holder dictates the price.

Netflix works more like a cable network, one which specialises in older titles with a few new ones thrown in for a limited time. You are never going to get access to all the latest releases for 10 euro per month. Mainly because Netflix can't afford it (they already regret charging so little) and also because the studios won't allow any one streaming service to dominate.

ozmo · 28-05-2012 02:19PM

Sad Professor wrote: »

Netflix can't afford it (they already regret charging so little) and also because the studios won't allow any one streaming service to dominate.

getting a little off track... but

Netflix when logged in, in USA has much better films than Netflix when logged in, in Ireland- and more complete boxsets - for cheaper.

Its the same servers and company involved...

eg. a good example is kids were disappointed that only up to series 4 is available of Doctor Who - but up to Series 7 is available when logged into the USA netflix... strange that.

UPC has same up to series 4 of this one too - but its free - so one up over the Irish Netflix for who fans I suppose.

Think its great they do all the boxsets for free.... hope they get some Id be more interested in myself.

lauraww · 28-05-2012 02:52PM

can someone tell me what movies are available on MGM on Demand
i hope there are good movies like Road House on it
i like the cheesy horrors aswell

Myrddin · 28-05-2012 03:41PM

ozmo wrote: »

Think its great they do all the boxsets for free.... hope they get some Id be more interested in myself.

I think they're only free if you have an HD subscription

Sad Professor · 28-05-2012 04:01PM

ozmo wrote: »

getting a little off track... but

Netflix when logged in, in USA has much better films than Netflix when logged in, in Ireland- and more complete boxsets - for cheaper.

Its the same servers and company involved...

It's US Netflix I'm talking about. They have a few new releases, but not many.

Morlar · 28-05-2012 05:01PM

5.99 to watch a movie is ridiculous. You can buy not rent for not much more than that.

If they want to offer a service where you pay to watch it online, then they mail you out the Disk you have paid for then that might be worthwhile. Otherwise I'll give it a miss.

The bbc boxsets section was good though. Rewatched Wallander and The Edge of Darkness. I liked that part of it, also MGM movies looked ok too.

hayser · 28-05-2012 05:51PM

Do you have to pay a rental fee for the TV shows that are available on the RTE Player (through the television)?

icdg · 28-05-2012 06:07PM

EnterNow wrote: »

I think they're only free if you have an HD subscription

That's not the case. You do, however, have to have at least a Digital Select subscription.

hayser wrote: »

Do you have to pay a rental fee for the TV shows that are available on the RTE Player (through the television)?

Nope, the players are free to all, including Digital Value customers.

Myrddin · 28-05-2012 06:14PM

icdg wrote: »

That's not the case. You do, however, have to have at least a Digital Select subscription

Yeah my bad, the lads in the cable forum cleared it up for me. I do have a cable sub but it's the lowest one, you need the middle or top pack. No thanks

lauraww · 28-05-2012 06:21PM

icdg wrote: »

That's not the case. You do, however, have to have at least a Digital Select subscription.

Nope, the players are free to all, including Digital Value customers.

i have digital max,will i get on demand?

Technocentral · 28-05-2012 08:55PM

lauraww wrote: »

i have digital max,will i get on demand?

Think you need the HD or latest boxes, the remotes will have the "On Demand" button on them. I have the HD box and it works perfectly.

OldeCinemaSoz · 28-05-2012 09:20PM

ozmo wrote: »

Blueray is far better quality than SKY or UPC - if you have a semi-decent tv to watch it.

Plus you get the extras - making of - commentries etc that can make a So-so film better when you listen to the effort involved in making it...

The ondemand is great and all - but Id rather pay for a hire of a real blueray than a download the price being equal.

It depends on the source material.

icdg · 28-05-2012 09:24PM

Technocentral wrote: »

Think you need the HD or latest boxes, the remotes will have the "On Demand" button on them. I have the HD box and it works perfectly.

You don't need a HD box, but you do need a UPC one - NTL and Chorus boxes won't work AFAIK.

Dodge · 29-05-2012 01:08AM

Go to channel 750 and perform the tests. That will tell you if you have the required hardware

FloatingVoter · 29-05-2012 07:03PM

Dodge wrote: »

Go to channel 750 and perform the tests. That will tell you if you have the required hardware

Test channel moved to 999.

Antrim_Man · 30-05-2012 01:43PM

Do you need a HD box to get HD on demand movies

I have the standard DVR box.

OldeCinemaSoz · 30-05-2012 08:02PM

If you check the listings then you'll note
that SKY is pushing their 3D channel with
all their so called new films on PREMIERE

All family films in prime time with a heading onto
their screenings with 3D glasses...

:rolleyes:

Murdocks Dying Family.

:cool:

marmaladejars · 31-05-2012 10:17AM

Is there any indicator that you'll have to pay for something? I've started watching Torchwood but it hasn't mentioned payment...

FloatingVoter · 31-05-2012 10:22AM

marmaladejars wrote: »

Is there any indicator that you'll have to pay for something? I've started watching Torchwood but it hasn't mentioned payment...

The boxsets are free. Its just the movies and the HD content that requires payment.
When something requires payment you'll be asked to enter your PIN. Might be a good idea to change that from the default if you have kids / babysitters etc.

UPC On Demand Movies

Comments