topic Re: Use channel app versus same EE channel in TV

Use channel app versus same EE channel

snes — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 16:28:13 GMT

I'm presently seeing out my SkyQ subscription and am exploring what life will be like as a cord cutter.

To that end I have purchased an "illegal" EE TV pro box and am using it as a Freeview device. While not as polished as the Sky product, I am liking the box very much so will continue along this path. When my Sky sub ends, I will have to decide whether to continue using the box as a Freeview box with apps or sign up with EE TV for the BB/TV service.

I find the EE sports package quite appealing and good value, but my main viewing would be Eurosport and Discovery car programmes, both of which come with this package. But I am reluctant as a potential cord cutter to sign up for another 2 year TV contract so am considering simply signing up direct to the Discovery+ app which is built into the box and viewing on that basis.

But what differences would I notice? Would both options have ads? Would both options be launched via the TV guide? Would the app be streaming only or could I record onto the box? Any guidance on here would be gratefully received, and I mean no disrespect to EE TV by posting on here as I think they are offering a solid product.

Oh, and just in case somebody asks, I am a current BT BB customer!

Re: Use channel app versus same EE channel

Profile closed — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 17:01:13 GMT

@snes

All discovery+ subscriptions include ads sadly.

If you go for a direct subscription then you can only use the app, subscribing via EE to an EE TV package that includes TNT Sport (Sport, Big Sports or Full Works), gives you app access and via the TV Guide.

It depends what you want to achieve really?

True cord cutting means zero contracts and full flexibility, but if you like the kit, would take the broadband anyway and can agree a deal that you are happy with, there are advantages such as the TV guide access and ability to record.

Re: Use channel app versus same EE channel

zulu17 — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 18:34:50 GMT

@snesyou say

"I find the EE sports package quite appealing and good value, but my main viewing would be Eurosport and Discovery car programmes, both of which come with this package."

You don't specifically mention any TNT Sports programmes.

Discovery+ (UK) I believe has three levels of plans in the UK , Basic,Standard,Premium. EE include access to Discovery+ Basic with their Entertainment/Big Entertainment and Premium with their Sport/Big Sport/Full Works TV Packs.

Do you actually need/want their (discovery+) Premium Plan or will the Standard Plan suffice for your viewing needs ?

Re: Use channel app versus same EE channel

Midnight_Voice — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 19:18:12 GMT

@snes

At the moment, if you range above 300 on the EPG, you will see ranges of channels that you can’t access. If you subscribe to EETV, then whichever of those channels are covered by the subscription you take will be both watchable and recordable.

If you don’t subscribe to EETV, then access to the apps will be according to whatever direct subscription(s) you take, but it won’t allow you access to the relevant channels in the EPG.

As you have probably found, you can record most Freeview channels, the ones you can access in the EPG, to your heart’s content. But if (say) you subscribe to Now Entertainment direct, then on the Box Pro you can only watch those channels in the Now app, and you can’t record them; and other Now channels, Soort and Cinema say, will require further subscriptions.

As indeed they do within EETV, but there it unlocks the corresponding Now live channels in the EPG, to watch and record.

As you have bought this ‘illegal’ box, I suggest that if you do decide to sign up to EETV, you request an EETV Apple TV box. This will come with a free Box Mini, thereby bringing you Multiroom, and if you use your Box Pro instead of that, it will gain the full functionality as it it was a Box Pro supplied by EETV, live channels in the EPG, which you can record if you want to, the lot.

Re: Use channel app versus same EE channel

Chris_B — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 20:22:41 GMT

@snes Totally agree with @Midnight_Voice on the Apple TV from EE.

Re: Use channel app versus same EE channel

snes — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 07:13:43 GMT

I think I need the premium Discovery as I want to watch the cycling on Eurosport and the current programmes shown on Discovery (mainly car related).

Could you advise further on this please? Thanks for your response!

Re: Use channel app versus same EE channel

snes — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 07:25:30 GMT

I see that you have taken the path that I am contemplating, so your helpful advice is extra appreciated! I don't fully understand your advice re the Apple box - my bad at understanding, in spite of your careful explaining - could you elaborate please? I am a great fan of the Apple box, I have heard so many good things about it!

On a slightly different theme, I note that EE TV are offering the Sport package at £15 instead of the usual £20 as I am a BT customer. Are these sort of offers usual, or does one have to phone up and haggle a la Sky?

Again, thank you to all the kind people who have taken the time to reply!

Re: Use channel app versus same EE channel

Profile closed — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 08:47:12 GMT

@snes The information you need about different options is here.

You don’t need Premium for access to Eurosport currently, it is available on Standard.

There is an expectation based on things said by the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery that Eurosport will close at some point and all content move into TNT Sports, but there is no actual confirmation of this currently.

Re: Use channel app versus same EE channel

snes — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 09:28:45 GMT

Sorry, I was confusing basic with standard! Indeed, standard is all I need. From what you have reported, a standalone Discovery app subscription may in the future lose me Eurosport - making the EE option, with TNT built in, a bit more future proof. Thanks for the heads up!

Re: Use channel app versus same EE channel

snes — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Forgot to mention, my wife is a great Premier League fan, so the TNT package would be a bonus for her.

Re: Use channel app versus same EE channel

Profile closed — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 09:32:44 GMT

@snes Has to be premium then otherwise you will be in trouble! That said, the vast majority of Premier League football is on Sky.

Re: Use channel app versus same EE channel

zulu17 — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 11:25:43 GMT

What a December 2024 press release did say

Arriving in early 2026, the market-wide launch of Max in the UK & Ireland is a significant step in our global roll-out ….” said Andrew Georgiou, President & Managing Director for WBD UK & Ireland.

So that poses the question of whether EE TV will continue with a legacy discovery+ app or look to offer a Max app. I think most of Europe seemed to transition from discovery+ to Max quite smoothly last year so presumably it should be quite straightforward.

Re: Use channel app versus same EE channel

Midnight_Voice — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 19:39:20 GMT

@snes

If you join EETV, and elect to have a Box Pro as part of your subscription, then you would have two fully working Pro boxes, yours and theirs. If you elect to have an AppleTV box instead, then you will still have a fully working Pro box, as the one you bought will become fully working, and you will also have a fully working EETV AppleTV box. This is more versatile than the Pro boxes in all things, except it can’t record, and it can’t get Freeview channels from an aerial, so it only has the selection that EETV provides over the internet

But unless you want those last two things in two different places in your property, the AppleTV is the more versatile choice for a second box. And it has Disney!

Re haggling, yes to both. Even the discounts they publicise are seldom the last word. Mutter about the ‘Value Team’ and try to leave nothing on the table 😛

Re: Use channel app versus same EE channel

snes — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 07:20:35 GMT

Many thanks for your comprehensive reply - yes, I understand fully now! Just one thing though - if I choose the Apple box option, how can I tell the Box Pro that I am now an official EE subscriber? Indeed, how does the Apple box recognise me, do I receive some sort of activation code?

I realise I am probably overthinking all this - my apologies!

Re: Use channel app versus same EE channel

Midnight_Voice — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 09:37:28 GMT

@snes

The Box Pro will sniff your internet, detect that it is bringing EETV, and then allow you all its capabilities, once you have Factory Reset it.

Your EETV is specific to your broadband line; you can’t get EETV anywhere but on that line, nobody can get your EETV on their line. For anything sensitive, you will be asked for your EETV logon details of course.

The Apple box will have a slip in the box with a QR code you can scan to start the setup process.

Re: Use channel app versus same EE channel

snes — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 13:48:34 GMT

I was just reviewing my BT offers page and decided to model putting together a BB/TV package, as this is what I will have to do at renewal time.

I chose my existing 500 speed BB then went to the TV add on page and selected Sport, which at the moment is showing a price of £15, then followed the process to the selection page. And there were no alternative box options! All I was offered was the TV box pro. No Apple alternative.

I don't really want to become a new EE customer from BT so I can have the alternative box choice - I would much rather remain on BT with an EE TV account. It seems that, if my simulated experience was anything to go by, I will have to accept another EE TV Pro Box as the only option, and should I require the Apple box experience, I would need to source an "illegal" one from eBay.

Are there ways around this situation? Have I approached this from the wrong angle? As usual, I am looking for help from the experienced members on here, for which I am always grateful.

Re: Use channel app versus same EE channel

Profile closed — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 14:07:28 GMT

@snes I am on BT Broadband with EE TV.

My contract ends in May and I have offers to switch to EE fully in MyBT now. If I click on the ‘Upgrade to EE’ banner at the top of the page when I log in I get taken to EE and presented with an option for my broadband (Halo 3+ > Full Works).

I then choose any phone option before deciding on a TV package.

I can then choose whether or not I want to swap my EE TV Box Pro for an Apple TV 4K or EE TV Box Mini:

Change box option

So the option is there in the online journey for me, as long as I start in MyBT.

Re: Use channel app versus same EE channel

Midnight_Voice — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 14:16:57 GMT

@snes

Yes, BT do not offer the Apple box; only EE do. Your analysis is correct as to your options.

But switching to EE isn’t that bad; I made the journey over after Christmas, and was straight in with everything intact, except I lost the HD part of my HD add-on, and only have Now Boost (so I can’t watch Discovery+ HD at the moment, big deal). But the big deal was keeping Multicast, and that didn’t even hiccup, and I can watch everything I used to watch on BT in the same seamless way. They didn’t even have to swap out my BT router; EE broadband comes over that perfectly well, and Digital Voice is just like it was before as well.

Re: Use channel app versus same EE channel

snes — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 15:29:16 GMT

Thank you for your, as ever, clear explanation.

There are a few reasons why I would prefer not to move over to EE fully - if I air them on here, perhaps I can be guided further.

Firstly, the initial change overs seem to produce billing/user type problems according to various posters on here and I am not sure this initial teething problem era has passed yet.

Secondly, my BT BB renewal offer is cheaper than the best EE offer for the same product by about £3 per month.

Thirdly, I have my BT router and WiFi disc (which is mine) so don't want to have to pay out again to reproduce this set up using EE equipment. Especially not if it means having to rent an EE WiFi disc.

Are the above valid reasons? I would welcome opinions!

Re: Use channel app versus same EE channel

Midnight_Voice — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 15:58:38 GMT

@snes

Yes they are.

Teething troubles go on - mine was trivial, but it shouldn’t have happened. And it took BT until now, nearly a month later, to get my final BT billing right; but they got it spot on. So just EE billing going forward now.

Cheaper is good. I found EE a bit cheaper - a free Box Mini, where BT would be £10 a month, outweighs £3 extra on broadband. But then not everybody wants another Box Mini….

I kept my BT router in the switch; EE saw no need to replace that. Didn’t stop BT sending me a Jiffy bag to return it in though, until clue was administered 😛

They did, earlier, want their WiFi disc back though, which was fair enough, as it wasn’t mine. I just popped a nanorouter on instead.

So yes, all valid reasons, and I shared some of your misgivings in early December.

But you can see that for me, at least, being an EE Community Star and still being on BT broadband wouldn’t have been a very good look 😛