General : Sport but not much else ?

[muppetman11]

With the exception of Sport what else do the likes of VM , Sky and BT have to offer that you can't get cheaper elsewhere ?

[arcimedes]

Not much different from asking what Waitrose offer that you cant get cheaper elsewhere. In our case they are within walking distance.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by arcimedes

Not much different from asking what Waitrose offer that you cant get cheaper elsewhere. In our case they are within walking distance.

But then the streaming services are easier and less hassle to setup and available pretty much on your choice of devices.

No waiting for installers no drilling holes in walls etc.

I guess what I'm saying is without sport the traditional platforms have very little in my opinion.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

But then the streaming services are easier and less hassle to setup and available pretty much on your choice of devices.

No waiting for installers no drilling holes in walls etc.

I guess what I'm saying is without sport the traditional platforms have very little in my opinion.

You're not wrong, muppetman but there are a number of posters on these forums that don't seem to have grasped this yet.

The Sky non sports/movie channels appear to have deteriorated of late, IMO. The only programme I am currently recording from their non premium pay channels is Madam Secretary.

Whereas, for example, Netflix are putting out new original series at an impressive pace.

[Chad]

My parents don't have the internet, a computer, a landline or a smart TV. For them to swap to a like for like service would mean a phoneline and broadband being installed, a subscription to Now Tv and Netflix, possibly 2 streaming devices plus a PVR so they can continue to record shows. Too much outlay and hassle to switch IMO.

[muppetman11]

I actually watch quite a lot on the Sky Entertainment channels but that's available on Now TV for £6.99 a month or even cheaper if you buy a voucher.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

You're not wrong, muppetman but there are a number of posters on these forums that don't seem to have grasped this yet.

The Sky non sports/movie channels appear to have deteriorated of late, IMO. The only programme I am currently recording from their non premium pay channels is Madam Secretary.

Whereas, for example, Netflix are putting out new original series at an impressive pace.

Their pace may look impressive, but bear in mind, they started from nothing so they need to start up a lot of new shows fast. The established channels don't need to start up a lot of new shows as they already have a lot.

Original? Meh. Even House of Cards is based on an old BBC series. Add in a couple of shows they've picked up from elsewhere, or based on Comics..

As for Sky, they don't produce a lot of original series either.. In fact, I can only think of a couple (which, to be fair, I enjoyed). I can't comment on Sky Sports or Sky Movies as I am not interested enough in sports to justify having the sports channels, and I find that if I am interested enough in a movie to watch it again, I probably already own the blu ray by the time it's on Sky.

[harry_hitch]

MM, I could get Now TV today, but then how will the gf watch keeping up with the kardashians (not that I would be upset about not seeing that). How am I going to watch any of the Nat Geo channels, any of the Discovery channels, Universal, Alibi, CI or SyFy for example? What about the wonderful Eden channel? Lets not forget about the excellent stuff on Sky Arts either.

I also have full series of shows and films recorded from last year, which I can watch at anytime, not within a predetermined time frame on Now TV. I need not worry about buffering, have seemless ffw, rewind and play/pause.

Sky as a whole works much better for me. We also pay for Netflix, but did end our Amazon prime subscription because we did not watch enough on it.

I appreciate, we are lucky enough to afford such luxuries, but I see no point in ditching the full Sky package for Now TV, especially with the deals available from Sky. £18 for the full HD family package, including box sets makes it, for me, fantastic value compared to Now TV.

---------- Post added at 14:17 ---------- Previous post was at 14:07 ----------

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

You're not wrong, muppetman but there are a number of posters on these forums that don't seem to have grasped this yet.

The Sky non sports/movie channels appear to have deteriorated of late, IMO. The only programme I am currently recording from their non premium pay channels is Madam Secretary.

Whereas, for example, Netflix are putting out new original series at an impressive pace.

Lol, I think a number of posters grasp what cord cutting brings, but they do not grasp your ideas of what will happen in the next 10-20 years. We use Netflix, but we do not use Amazon because there simply is not enough we want to watch on there. I also refuse to pay for the few movie I may watch when I already pay a subscription.

Sky branded channels themselves do have a lot of dross, but they still get decent viewing figures. Also, I notice you don't mention the shows that launch on Universal, SyFy, Alibi and all the other non-Sky branded channels when comparing to Netflix.

Netflix don't release viewing figures, which is a shame because I have found a number of their original series to be quite bad. Frankie and Grace, Kimmy Schmidt the ridiculous 6 and Bojack Horseman to name but 4. They do show some top quality shows too. Also, don't forget a number of series they do add come from other content providers (BBC, C4 Fox, Universal AMC etc) and have, in most cases, all been shown before.

I really like Netflix, and the premise of Now TV, but I will not be cord cutting for some considerable time.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Stuart

Their pace may look impressive, but bear in mind, they started from nothing so they need to start up a lot of new shows fast. The established channels don't need to start up a lot of new shows as they already have a lot.

Original? Meh. Even House of Cards is based on an old BBC series. Add in a couple of shows they've picked up from elsewhere, or based on Comics..

As for Sky, they don't produce a lot of original series either.. In fact, I can only think of a couple (which, to be fair, I enjoyed). I can't comment on Sky Sports or Sky Movies as I am not interested enough in sports to justify having the sports channels, and I find that if I am interested enough in a movie to watch it again, I probably already own the blu ray by the time it's on Sky.

Yes, the existing channels have a huge library of material that has been shown before. Whatever the reason for the pace at which new shows are being put onto Netflix and Amazon, the fact that it is happening is good news. Personally, I have little interest in watching programmes I have already seen.

House of Cards is only one of many new series available on Netflix, and although based on the BBC series, it is a whole new story. Absolutely brilliant. I am on the third series now and loving every minute of it.

Sky is heavily reliant on imported material. Some of it is good, but there is little on there currently that is worth watching. Considering this is pay TV, it does not compare well with the free terrestrials. They could do an awful lot better.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by Chad

My parents don't have the internet, a computer, a landline or a smart TV. For them to swap to a like for like service would mean a phoneline and broadband being installed, a subscription to Now Tv and Netflix, possibly 2 streaming devices plus a PVR so they can continue to record shows. Too much outlay and hassle to switch IMO.

Do they also live in a cave and draw things on the walls.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by harry_hitch

but then how will the gf watch keeping up with the kardashians

Treat her and send her to another room.
https://www.hayu.com/welcome

[Chad]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Do they also live in a cave and draw things on the walls.

Not far of it! Honestly I could tell you some wacky stuff about them. They refuse to get central heating and still have a coal fire. The coal lorry no longer comes to my town. My Dad has got to drive to the coal yard to get his coal! They don't have a bank card and have never used a cash machine. My Mum thought £1 was a good tip to leave after we had a £200 family meal in a local resteraunt. The list goes on and on. They're good people but are stuck in the 1980's.

---------- Post added at 21:21 ---------- Previous post was at 21:20 ----------

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Treat her and send her to another room.
https://www.hayu.com/welcome

Bingo! Since I signed her up my wife has been watching stuff every night on the laptop in the bedroom. I get free run of the house. Well worth £4 per month

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Yes, the existing channels have a huge library of material that has been shown before. Whatever the reason for the pace at which new shows are being put onto Netflix and Amazon, the fact that it is happening is good news. Personally, I have little interest in watching programmes I have already seen.

About 95% of the TV shows on Amazon and Netflix have been shown on other channels (usually linear) first.. I mean new episodes of established shows, as well you know.

House of Cards is only one of many new series available on Netflix, and although based on the BBC series, it is a whole new story. Absolutely brilliant. I am on the third series now and loving every minute of it.

I realise House of Cards is only one of many new series, and I don't doubt that it is a whole new story and is good. Unfortunately, there seems to be a tendency amongst certain people to say certain shows are excellent seemingly because they are being funded by Netflix or Amazon. While I like a few shows (and do actively watch Netflix), I'd argue that most of the new shows I've seen on Netflix and Amazon have been adequate at best and absolutely awful at worst (Daredevil and Outlander are in this latter category IMO).

Sky is heavily reliant on imported material. Some of it is good, but there is little on there currently that is worth watching. Considering this is pay TV, it does not compare well with the free terrestrials. They could do an awful lot better.

That's true.

[harry_hitch]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Treat her and send her to another room.
https://www.hayu.com/welcome

Lol, tempting but I know what I will get told. Would never want to send her away either, seems a bit harsh. She puts up with my "rubbish" from Nat Geo channels and the others listed in my previous post, so I put up with her reality rubbish.