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

[fimitch10]

It was probably because I hadn't viewed ITV as we have STV in Scotland instead of ITV1. Strange I didn't have to go through the same process with STV!  As I was going onto another ITV channel (ITV3) thats when the notification came up even though I had already signed into the ITVX App. Just to expand, even with internet TV we don't get BBC London either which, you normally get on digital systems. Would I have to sign into BBC to achieve the same viewing?! All very odd and strange and not very user friendly, hence the reason I have cancelled my EETV order as I get better choices and options on Prime which at least shows ITV Live programmes via the ITVX App. The EE Pro Box ITV App does not have the Live option which I find very odd. Another part not explained to customers.

Quite frustrating having to sign in to what are normally standard channels even in the low number of commercial channels available in my area. 

As all responses seem to be from customers who don't live in Scotland, it's kind of pointless explaining what the situation is here. I won't be replying to any further questions. Sorry.

[DarrenDev]

The channels available in IP mode are limited to just those channels we're allowed to include - each channel has the option to be on the EE TV platform, and those who aren't on it, have chosen to not be on it.  We can't force them.  There are also regional variations, and we're required to restrict viewers to only the channels that are available in their region - so we can't just allow you to choose any region in the UK.

The channels listed in the TV Guide when in aerial mode are a combination of those channels discoverable via the aerial, plus some additional subscription channels added by the EE TV service.

Visibility of a channel in a Freeview TV Guide doesn't guarantee it can be watched. There are different standards for Freeview transmission, and different devices support different standards.  e.g. older TVs / set top boxes will only be able to show SD channels (DVB), but newer devices add HD channels too (DVB-T2).  Even newer devices can then also add support for other standards - including MHEG and HbbTV.  YouView boxes have never supported these formats, and probably never will.  The channels are still listed (in positions 260-300), as they were returned from the Freeview channel scan, but they cannot be watched as the additional software isn't prevent on the YouView box to play them.  See the full Freeview channel list here - the "Streamed channels" cannot be watched on EE TV (YouView) boxes.

Regarding the ITVX sign in prompt - this was one of the requirements imposed on EE TV to be allowed to include any ITV channels on the EE TV service, when in IP mode (a feature specific to EE TV, and distributed specifically by BT/EE over a private section of the internet). When using the aerial, standard Freeview distribution rights exist, so no additional rules are imposed.

[DarrenDev]

@fimitch10 you wouldn't get BBC One London in Scotland - you'd get the version of BBC One for your TV region, and it's at position 1 (not 101) when in IP mode.  

The ITV/STV apps don't have to offer the live channels if they don't want to - they're on a box that already offers those channels via the TV Guide.  It's up to the app owners to choose what content they include in the app.

The requirement to sign into ITVX is a one-time activity.  Any additional prompt to log in again is a bug, not a requirement.

p.s. I live in Edinburgh - same channel setup as you.

[Weerab2024]

That's an interesting one.

So narrative entertainment and Hearst networks have their IP channels on competitor services but they don't want to have them included on EE TV as examples.