New to EE TV - a few issues

[imacken]

I am trialling EE TV with a view to ending my 23 year relationship with Sky, and I can't say I'm too impressed so far.

Now, some of these may be fixable, and if so, any help appreciated.

1) Can't easily skip adverts on ITV recordings, although I realise this can be avoided if I use the box in hybrid aerial/internet mode.

2) on the iPhone/iPad app, there does not seem to be a way of watching channels like BBC1, Sky Sports, etc.

3) can't watch recordings on the app, or make them.

4) the mini-box seems to be a standalone device with no connection to main box, so no access to recordings etc.

5) the 'What's On now' live TV bar only highlights SD channels, so seems like a waste of time.

6) only seem to get surround sound from Sky channels, not on BBC1, etc.

7) if I select a programme to 'series record', all versions of the programme, e.g. on +1 channels, get recorded.

Any help or comments on this would be appreciate.  At the moment, I am thinking of returning to Sky.

[DarrenDev]

I understand your frustration @imacken - it frustrates us too. We want to make EE TV the best it can be, but we have to work with the restrictions we have. 

Check out the catch up players for the programmes you wish to record - they are your only option as an EE TV customer.

[imacken]

Thanks Darren. I’m afraid it’s not always easy to find live sporting events on catch up.

Is EE trying to resolve this situation at all?

[DarrenDev]

Being able to watch recordings from other devices - no. That is a battle that was lost many years ago.

[imacken]

Can you briefly say what the objections are, and why other providers are allowed to do it?

[DarrenDev]

Just take a look at what's happened on TV Box already regarding recordings - BBC no longer allow anything to be recorded, and force users to watch it on iPlayer.  ITV no longer allow skipping ads.  Those 2 have set a precedent that I'm sure others will try to follow.

Content owners hold all the cards - they get to choose how their content can be distributed.

[imacken]

Thanks Darren.

Not sure I understand. I record BBC programmes without going to iPlayer and ITV without ads from aerial channel on the EE TV Box. ITV I (semi) understand as that their main revenue stream.

I guess my question was, what is stopping EE TV having the same facilities as there are on Sky? For example access to recordings on mini box.

Why do content owners allow Sky and not EE TV customers ?

[DarrenDev]

I genuinely don't have the answer as to why @imacken - I'm not involved in the legal discussions.  We just get told the outcome - i.e. what we can add to our apps/devices, and what restrictions we need to impose.

It's also worth noting that Sky got there first - they've offered that facility for many years, before most providers had apps (or didn't fully realise the potential of them).  It's not in a content provider's best interests to allow that facility anymore, and I suspect that Sky wouldn't have got permission for it if they were asking now for the first time.

[imacken]

Thanks again, Darren.

I genuinely don't see what the issue is.  Why is there a legal problem with watching something I legally recorded in an adjacent room a few metres away?

[Midnight_Voice]

@imacken 

There isn’t one, as long as you watch it on the box you legally recorded it on.

I can swap my bedroom T2110 and lounge T4000 over in three minutes flat, pluggety plugetty, if we want to watch in the bedroom something only recorded in the lounge, or vice versa. Even the power supplies can stay in situ, as they are interchangeable.

Stitch that sort of content redistribution, content suppliers 😛

[imacken]

Thanks. Probably not explaining my question very well.

I’m curious to know what the issue is, i.e. the legal objection, to watching a legally recorded programme via a box linked to that recording in a location a few metres away.