Freeview Internet TV channels via EE TV Box

[Oldvalues]

Have just joined EE . Prior to joining was told that TV Freeview  Channels were available via Broadband . After installation found this was not the case. Many channels were missing and none of Freeview TV Channels via Internet were available at all. Thought this was due lack Terestial TV arial so had one fitted and sure enough all the missing channels appeared in the EE TV box programme including internet based,  BUT the vast majority of the Internet channel's will not display. Only one that will is Talk TV. Can anyone advisd

[Midnight_Voice]

@Oldvalues 

I doubt that EETV will ever be out of this world 🚀

[fimitch10]

I have also just taken on EE TV package. Information on the website does not match up with what you get. With the Pro recordable box using WiFi there are a large amount of Freeview channels missing including the advertised +1 channels. In my region there are only the emergency channels a mere 59 of the 200+ Freeview channels via aerial. If you want a larger number of channel choices you have to buy them from a tv provider. There is no ITV 1 in Scotland we only get STV. The EE pro box defaults to 2 Scottish choices in my area using internet?  no option to choose and English region. Using the ITVX App via EE TV there is no Live transmission option on any of the ITV channels which, you do get using the App without a TV provider. I’m presuming it is the same with all other Apps like Channel 4 and My5. My area doesn’t have any the U channels. The only way of getting all the Freeview channels is by buying one of the 2 exclusively selected branded TV’s that has Freely streaming transmission in-built into the TV. Neither of the TV brands I would personally buy. Apparently there isn’t going to be an App by Freely!  Very disappointed with EE TV, as I’m within my 14 days I will be returning the equipment and cancelling my contract as I am paying the same price as a person that gets all their advertised channels and services. The people at EE technical help have tried their best but they aren’t able to do anything to make the service as is advertised in my region and no one in sales explained that this is an issue. 

[Midnight_Voice]

@fimitch10 

I’m trying to get to grips with your gripe.

I take it you live in an area served only by a relay transmitter, the so-called Freeview Lite? So you have the choice of running your Box Pro in Aerial Mode, and getting the same restricted range of channels that your TV gets, or running it in IP Mode, and getting the channels that EETV have been informed are available in your area, from the range they supply over IP.

I hope, though, that you get all the channels that IP Mode provides for your region, and this isn’t cut down in any way because your actual transmitter is Freeview Lite.

By design, the choice of regions that you get when ‘tuning’ in IP Mode is based on what transmitters are likely serving your postcode; you can’t pick just anywhere.

But if, like me, you aren’t being offered the region your local transmitter is actually providing, then yes, complain here. Frustratingly, I do get my local region considered, but I’m not offered it to make my main choice; it goes and lives above 800 on the EPG, and I can’t have it as my 1 and 3.

EETV have acknowledged this is a bug, and I hope to see a fix. Though I don’t know if you have this bug or not, or just the usual limitations.

As regards Freely, you would have a similar issue with this; any channel that is both not provided over IP and not available from your local Lite transmitter, simply wouldn’t show up. 

I don’t know, by the way, if you have contacted the TV LIcensing authorities about paying less for your TV licence because you aren’t getting the full range of channels other people get for the same money? It’s got to be worth a try….

[fimitch10]

My “gripe” is that there was no indication or information that EE would not
be able to provide all their advertised channels over the internet to every
region.

Yes, here we have a 20th century relay transmitter very limited commercial
channels. The commercial channel operators did not want to invest in a full
transmitter service to this area, it’s apparently not a commercially viable
area.
Television licensing provide all the required “emergency” channels. Local
MP’s throughout the years have been aware of the situation.
If you live in Aberdeen 240 available channels, live in Perth & Kinross
limited to 59 channels, who would believe there would be such a disparity
in the 21st century especially in a country that isn’t short of hills &
mountains!

I believe there just has to be honesty with all tv providers as to which
channels they are able to provide in individual regions and which channels
they are not able to provide. The public will have to accept that streaming
channels is not replacing the digital channels we are familiar with. But,
it is essential that we are able to make an informed choices in order to
choose which provider to invest our not insignificant amounts of money.

The above is my experience and my opinion which shouldn’t be confused with
a gripe.

[Midnight_Voice]

@fimitch10 

So which of the advertised channels for IP Mode:-

https://ee.co.uk/help/tv-sport/manage-use/channel-guide

(you can scroll down within each section, which EETV don’t give any of the usual visual clues for, so it isn’t very clear)

aren’t you getting?

I wouldn’t expect you to get ITV1 HD, because it’s universal that Scotland gets STV instead. But apart from that regional change, which is anyway a swap, I’d expect you to get all the rest.

Or were you misled about what channels IP Mode provides?

[zulu17]

Hi @fimitch10 

looking at the EE webpages the internet and aerial modes are explained 

https://ee.co.uk/help/tv-sport/manage-use/modes

specifically it does say in aerial mode

• access to the full selection of Freeview channels available at your address.

with a link to the Freeview page.

[Oldvalues]

Hi Fimitch10

I was one of those . When joining EE was give the impression that all Free to Air Freeview channels would be available to me via the EE TV Box. In fact when speaking to the EE rep during my initial contact told them I had no TV Arial and asked / was informed that I would get Freeview programme without the need for a TV Arial. As subsequently shown this was not the case and found numerous Freeview channels missing from the EE TV Box program guide . So had terrestrial TV Arial fitted 

• Have since had a long talk with the EE Technical Support about the fact that even though all the missing channels are now displayed on their Programme Guide , many , in particular the Internet linked channels , can be selected but they only display the TV programme time line and no picture. Incidentally my EeTV box is tied to Pontact Pike Newcastle Freeview Transmitter. Finally, with the help of their technical support department, have raised an official complaint that the EE TV Box does not provide me with the Freeview tv channels I was give to understand it would. It is now, I hope, progressing through the system . Are awaiting reply.

[DarrenDev]

I'm not sure what you're hoping for @Oldvalues - they can't fix it. The only options are to accept you can't get those channels on the TV Box, or you cancel your subscription.

[Midnight_Voice]

@Oldvalues @fimitch10 

No doubt part of the complaints procedure will be listening back to your phone calls with EE and seeing if anybody misspoke to you during them, which would allow you to leave penalty free.

But do we think it is really the case that EETV sales staff are not aware of the limitations of their IP Mode, and of the Boxes Pro and Mini with regard to the 280/300 channels?

Which latter anyone can get on their TV, provided it is Smart and has an aerial plugged in, even in Freeview Lite areas?

[Midnight_Voice]

@DarrenDev 

Can we take it that when a customer is in a Freeview Lite area, IP Mode isn’t going to cut down the available channels accordingly, and will act as if the customer’s transmitter was Full Freeview, and provide the standard IP Mode subset of channels?