TiVo : Multiroom streaming ... who's ready?

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by davidthornton

Does Sky have an imminent MRS streaming product?

I believe that they do. MM would be the expert on that one.

[howardmicks]

Originally Posted by passingbat

I believe that they do. MM would be the expert on that one.

And when they do no doubt,most channel restrictions will have been sorted for launch day.Rather than the half a bucket of crap channels we currently we can stream

[davidthornton]

I've not looked at the latest Sky+ HD information lately because I don't watch the service as much and have reduced my sub accordingly. They are currently limiting the Sky+ iPad app to those with at least one of the two newer Amstrad +HD boxes so presume MRS would be limited in this way too. Older Pace and Samsung +HD boxes are currently left out. Given Sky users have a much wider range of equipment I'd expect potential take up to be slower. VM have the advantage of a new platform but they need to get their finger out with regards MRS.

[muppetman11]

That's not true the Sky+ iPad app now works on all Sky+HD boxes with the new EPG so basically all Sky+HD boxes with the exception of the original Thomson Sky+ HD box its also available on Android now.

[davidthornton]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

That's not true the Sky+ iPad app now works on all Sky+HD boxes with the new EPG so basically all Sky+HD boxes with the exception of the original Thomson Sky+ HD box its also available on Android now.

Really? I thought the Pace and Samsung box firmwares were still in beta. When did that change? I'm trying to establish over on Sky User forum.

Update: I've just forced my Samsung box to do a firmware update and it now functions with the iPad app. I cannot try the Pace as it is disconnected but presume the same applies. I stand corrected.

Is the forthcoming MRS from Sky box to box or box to Sky Go app or both?

[Jong1]

Why is it that only Virgin seem to get perpetually stuck with these horrible rights issues. Soon it will kill them dead if they are not careful.

I have just subscribed to Netflix (for their exclusive new show, House of Cards). Here is what I can do:

- watch ALL their shows (not some handful of ancient/foreign/plain awful shows) on any number of devices and PCs I want. All I have to do is log on.

- currently I have Netflix on 2 Samsung Smart TVS, my iphone, iPad and 2 PCs. No ridiculous device limit. no problem.

- as I move from device to device I can instantly pick up every show/boxset from where I left it minutes/hours/days ago. I can start watching on one TV in the kitchen and then leave the house or move to the living room and watch via my HTPC from the exact same spot. All seemless.

What Virgin should have done BEFORE LAUNCH OF TV ANYWHERE is get similar access to all their channels and content.

As I understand it the traditional TV Networks and producers are very protective of the "Old-Fashioned" TV distribution system of which cable is a part. They should be receptive to any cable channel wanting to keep people subscribing in the traditional manor to cable services, rather than defecting to "over the top services" for a greatly improved user experience. If they are prepared to let Netflix show Downton, The Killing, etc. etc. without all these crazy limits surely Virgin must be able to get the same. It seems Virgin just do not try hard enough or do not understand the importance of getting this right.

To get over the "one device at a time" issue I could see Virgin allowing you to buy extra simultaneous device rights in a similar way to the way they offer additional boxes now. Each additional box in your home gives you one extra simultaneous device permission and if you need more (e.g. you only have one box in your home, but you want to be able to watch on your phone, while your family are watching at home) you can subscribe without a physical box.

[Jong1]

Edit: I'd like to be able to change my post to correct a factual error or two, but it seems that isn't possible. So here is a revised version of the post:

I have just subscribed to Netflix (for their exclusive new show, House of Cards). Here is what I can do:

- watch ALL their shows (not some handful of ancient/foreign/plain awful shows) on up to 6 devices/PCs, rather than 2. i.e., for most, no practical limit.

- currently I have Netflix on 2 Samsung Smart TVS, my iphone, iPad and 2 PCs. No ridiculous device limit. no problem.

- I can watch on 2 devices simultaneously

- as I move from device to device I can instantly pick up every show/boxset from where I left it minutes/hours/days ago. I can start watching on one TV in the kitchen and then leave the house or move to the living room and watch via my HTPC from the exact same spot. All seamless.

What Virgin should have done BEFORE LAUNCH OF TV ANYWHERE is get similar access to all their channels and content.

To get over the limit on simultaneous devices I could see Virgin allowing you to buy extra simultaneous device rights in a similar way to the way they offer additional boxes now. Each additional box in your home gives you one extra simultaneous device permission and if you need more (e.g. you only have one box in your home, but you want to be able to watch on your phone, while your family are watching at home) you can subscribe without a physical box.

As I understand it the traditional TV Networks and producers are very protective of the "Old-Fashioned" TV distribution system of which cable is a part. They should be receptive to any cable channel wanting to keep people subscribing in the traditional manor to cable services, rather than defecting to "over the top services" for the greatly improved user experience, described above. If they are prepared to let Netflix show Downton, The Killing, etc. etc. without all these crazy limits surely Virgin must be able to get the same. It seems Virgin just do not try hard enough or do not understand the importance of getting this right.

All in all, good as the TV Anywhere service is for controlling the TiVo (and for that it IS very good), the streaming service is tragically poor, not just in abstract theory but against already available subscription services available on most new TVs and consoles. How Virgin have allowed themselves to be outmaneuvered in this way I really do not know.

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by Jong1

To get over the limit on simultaneous devices I could see Virgin allowing you to buy extra simultaneous device rights in a similar way to the way they offer additional boxes now. Each additional box in your home gives you one extra simultaneous device permission and if you need more (e.g. you only have one box in your home, but you want to be able to watch on your phone, while your family are watching at home) you can subscribe without a physical box.
.

As you say, Netflix don't charge extra for this.

The content providers/channel providers are greedy and are trying to get more money for services such as this on Tivo. They won't be getting any extra money from me for what you describe above, and really, they need a smack round the head for being so greedy. But VM aren't blameless, as they knew the current rights issues and should have been sorting these out from the very start. OFCOM should look into this as well IMHO.

TV providers are preventing progress and laying the ground for more people, "Cutting the cord" and rebelling against their unreasonable restrictive rules. The sooner all worldwide content is legitimately available via subscription, the better.

[muppetman11]

I'll reserve judgement until further pay TV firms have their MRS products out at least then we'll be able to see where the problems lie , I believe VM are the only traditional pay TV firm currently offering this product.

[Jong1]

Originally Posted by passingbat

As you say, Netflix don't charge extra for this.

The content providers/channel providers are greedy and are trying to get more money for services such as this on Tivo. They won't be getting any extra money from me for what you describe above, and really, they need a smack round the head for being so greedy. But VM aren't blameless, as they knew the current rights issues and should have been sorting these out from the very start. OFCOM should look into this as well IMHO.

TV providers are preventing progress and laying the ground for more people, "Cutting the cord" and rebelling against their unreasonable restrictive rules. The sooner all worldwide content is legitimately available via subscription, the better.

Truth is when I first posted I assumed Netflix only allowed 1 simultaneous stream. It was only when i did some checking i found 2 were allowed by default! I guess now I am thinking of households who need more than 2 locations. We currently have 3 Virgin STBs but I admit it is rare we are using all three. Still I would be annoyed if I couldn't watch in the kitchen because my son was watching on his phone. I think we need to be able to have more than 2 streams and Netflix do this ATM by requiring 2 subscriptions. Not too bad @5.99, but I wouldn't want to pay 2 Virgin XL subs!

---------- Post added at 17:01 ---------- Previous post was at 16:58 ----------

Originally Posted by muppetman11

I'll reserve judgement until further pay TV firms have their MRS products out at least then we'll be able to see where the problems lie , I believe VM are the only traditional pay TV firm currently offering this product.

The point is the non-traditional services don't seem to have a problem offering much more content in a much more relaxed manor. The traditional services seem to be allowing their closeness to the suppliers to tie their hands, instead of using that closeness to get an edge!

Anyone with this set up, are new channels (Vintage, Create & Craft, TLC, NHK, etc) MRS enabled? I'm wondering if Virgin are even bothering to include MRS in new deals.

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by Jong1

Still I would be annoyed if I couldn't watch in the kitchen because my son was watching on his phone. I think we need to be able to have more than 2 streams and Netflix do this ATM by requiring 2 subscriptions. Not too bad @5.99, but I wouldn't want to pay 2 Virgin XL subs!
!

Currently with Netflix you can stream two separate shows at the same time with one £5.99 (US $8) account. They are currently doing, or about to, trial a subscription option for around $12 where you can stream four different shows at the same time.

[spiderplant]

Originally Posted by Jameseh

Anyone with this set up, are new channels (Vintage, Create & Craft, TLC, NHK, etc) MRS enabled? I'm wondering if Virgin are even bothering to include MRS in new deals.

I haven't checked in the past month, but most of the other additions this year are MRS-enabled.

See this post http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/35556783-post10.html

[paultrademark]

You'd think VM would keep their website updated then

http://my.virginmedia.com/discover/t...s.snippet.html

[Ben B]

I'm having a problem with the following setup:

Homeplug > Switch > TiVo1
Homeplug > Superhub
Homeplug > TiVo2

Doesn't work, where as:

Homeplug > Switch > TiVo1
//No homeplug to superhub
Homeplug > TiVo2

does work, I've tried without the switch as well but with the superhub still connected and it still doesn't work. I've tried every configuration on the network setup screen on both TiVo boxes as well to no avail.