topic Re: Roadmap for ee tv minibox - Recording / Viewing recording in TV

Roadmap for ee tv minibox - Recording / Viewing recording

WoogieBoogie — Sun, 14 Apr 2024 09:42:19 GMT

I know that currently it is not possible to watch content recorded on the main ee box on a mini box. In addition nor is it possible to initiate recording from the mini box.

Question - Are these features even on the product roadmap. I'm currently with Sky and was going to move to ee TV but this limitation is disappointing

Re: Roadmap for ee tv minibox - Recording / Viewing recording

DarrenDev — Sun, 14 Apr 2024 10:34:26 GMT

They're not on the roadmap, and almost certainly never will be. The content providers won't allow it - they want you to use their catch up apps instead.

Re: Roadmap for ee tv minibox - Recording / Viewing recording

WoogieBoogie — Sun, 14 Apr 2024 20:15:08 GMT

Why then do Sky mini boxes allow it (even for non Sky content). Also if the main ee tv box allows you to record then I don't understand your point about content providers not allowing ie they wouldn't allow it for the main box either? Isn't this a problem that is controllable by ee (eg have the mini boxes be clients of the main box acting as a server)

Re: Roadmap for ee tv minibox - Recording / Viewing recording

DarrenDev — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 06:36:44 GMT

Sharing the content with a different box (or with the mobile app) is classed as redistribution. We proved many years ago that we could do it, but couldn't get permission. Other providers have more bargaining power.

Re: Roadmap for ee tv minibox - Recording / Viewing recording

WoogieBoogie — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 06:52:20 GMT

Thanks Darren. Wow that's a pretty hard nosed attitude from content owners and perhaps more down to commercials constraints that Sky agreed with them - feels like a restriction of competition. Would be surprised if this situation persisted for years: the gradual migration to fully Internet TV (eg Freely) would make it a natural step (at least if considering customer centred design). Not everything is on catch up.. and customer ought to be priority.

Re: Roadmap for ee tv minibox - Recording / Viewing recording

DarrenDev — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 08:30:46 GMT

The situation is getting more controlled. You'll no doubt already have seen that the ITV channels no longer allow you to skip the ads (even when recorded on the TV Box Pro) - further restrictions will follow, for sure. The content providers want everything to be streamed on demand in their apps, under their control, and with their own personalised advertising revenue. With everything being delivered over the internet, there'll come a time where there's no need for recordings (or even live channels) - everything will be available on demand.

Re: Roadmap for ee tv minibox - Recording / Viewing recording

WoogieBoogie — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 13:28:46 GMT

Regarding "a time when recording will no longer be needed" I respectfully disagree at least for the foreseeable future. Catch up services tend to be a curated set of content. I agree that if you extrapolate to the nth degree then every piece of content will be accessible.. however long way off.

Given ee does have agreement to record content on the main box I'm frankly surprised they aren't fighting harder to reach parity with Sky (ie view content on the main box on a different tv that is connected to the mini box) . The reason Sky have the feature in the first place is that there is a demand for it. I would think it would be very attractive to provide this given the increasingly competitive environment. Anyway, not giving you a hard time as you've been v helpful. Just disappointed the product owner at EE can't push more

Re: Roadmap for ee tv minibox - Recording / Viewing recording

DarrenDev — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 13:41:57 GMT

"Given ee does have agreement to record content on the main box"

On this point, this came with additional restrictions when we launched Internet mode - part of the negotiation to allow IP channels included restricting ad skipping on ITV. Other restrictions are coming - also part of these same Internet Mode agreements.

BT TV/EE TV has been around for over 10 years, and this has been a commonly requested feature right from the start. As the dev lead for the mobile app since the start, I can say I've had this discussion many times over the years.

Re: Roadmap for ee tv minibox - Recording / Viewing recording

WoogieBoogie — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 18:29:07 GMT

Thanks Darren. I guess I'll have to lump it. To be clear I'd accept limitations re adverts - it's the fact the minibox is constrained by commercial agreements that's annoying. Anyway let's hope content providers quickly make catch up scope ever more broad. As you say effectively very similar outcome for the customer. Before I go though, there is an interesting argument here for the Competition & Markets Authority. It's only Sky here in UK that provides this capability you'd have to ask why that is especially for BBC content. If it's more that EE simply won't pay any additional costs that's a different point I guess. Anyway, thanks for your patience.

Re: Roadmap for ee tv minibox - Recording / Viewing recording

ayraulk — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 07:00:05 GMT

Hello

I moved from Virgin media on the understanding that recorded programmes could be viewed on the mini box.

reading your replies suggests that EE is second tier to Sky and Virgin media and you will lose customers. Isn’t this a serious user feature missing and your sales staff are selling as possible. I don’t see the commercial restriction here I think you should speak to the BT contracts people as they have a lot of power. I am not happy about this feature not being in my package as I would have stayed with VM. I’d appreciate your thoughts on this. You are the product owner and should insist.

Re: Roadmap for ee tv minibox - Recording / Viewing recording

ayraulk — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 07:01:20 GMT

Hello

I moved from Virgin media on the understanding that recorded programmes could be viewed on the mini box.

IAN

Re: Roadmap for ee tv minibox - Recording / Viewing recording

Weerab2024 — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 07:19:03 GMT

As a loyal customer with BT and now EE, I accept the limitations but some more agreements with content providers would be great.

We have the Great!catch up app but no GREAT! channels. Where they are branching out to FAST channels, their linear channels must be available and hopefully not overpriced

Also Darren is really helpful and I appreciate the time he takes to help us on these forums.

Re: Roadmap for ee tv minibox - Recording / Viewing recording

DarrenDev — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 07:41:29 GMT

This isn't going to change @ayraulk - the industry is moving in the opposite direction, with content owners preferring viewers use their catch up apps. We can't insist on anything - it's their content, and they hold all the cards.

You may have seen the announcement that it'll soon not be possible to record BBC channels on the TV Box Pro when in IP mode - another example of them exercising their power to control how their content is consumed.

Re: Roadmap for ee tv minibox - Recording / Viewing recording

Midnight_Voice — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 14:47:09 GMT

@DarrenDev

Somebody should remind them that we can go to Manhattan without either catching a plane or sailing on the Queen Mary 2 🚢😛

Re: Roadmap for ee tv minibox - Recording / Viewing recording

Stretch54 — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:27:35 GMT

I was told the same thing early January 2025 about recorded programs being able to watch on any of our other two Mini boxes, which is pretty disappointing. But seems like it is a sales ploy, I was told it was a training error, EE need get their training of employees in order. Maybe the Communications Ombudsman should be informed.

Re: Roadmap for ee tv minibox - Recording / Viewing recording

Stretch54 — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:53:41 GMT

EE Sales personnel are still using the watch recorded programs on mini Box ploy, meaning they are contravening sales communications. See my other response.