Fao Buenchico

[anotheoldgit]

You earlier posted regarding the Now TV box stating that it cost £16 from Asda, well it is advertised at £9.99 could the extra be for the 3 months access to the 'Entertainment Package'?

I have also seen Google’s ChromeCast a dongle that plugs directly into one's TV there are also Android TV boxes, I am rather confused, what is the best method?

[Buenchico]

Chromecast, as I understand it, is primarily a device for streaming content from a phone or tablet across to your TV. (i.e. you need to have BOTH a Chromecast AND another device, capable of receiving streamed TV signals, to get it to work).

I've not encountered the term 'Android TV box' (and Google isn't particularly helpful, so I'll pass on that one.

What you might see in the shops are Tivo boxes, which are rather similar to Now TV boxes. That's because Now TV boxes are actually TIvo boxes that have been specially configured to Sky's requirement (because it's Sky which markets them).

A Now TV box (on its own) does indeed cost just £9.99 (inc p&p). However (if you buy online) you can also get the box complete with one of the following options for £19.99:
a) a 3 month 'Entertainment' pass ; or
b) a 2 month 'Movies' pass ; or
c) 2 x 1-day passes for access to all 7 Sky Sports channels.
It's those 'packages' which are on sale in major supermarkets. (If you're interested, be sure to pick up the correct box, as all three are usually close together on the shelves). I paid £16 in Asda but Tesco had them for £20 with £2.50 in Clubcard Reward points (in addition to the normal 20p) given with your purchase.

Once you've got your box you have to register online for an account, so you can activate your package. You do need to provide your debit card details but unlike, say, Sky or cable services, there's no commitment to a subscription. You simply tell them if you don't want to pay £6.99 per month (for the Entertainment pass) after the three months are up. Your box will still work with 'catch up' services (such as BBC iPlayer ITV Player, 4oD and Demand 5) and free apps (such as the one that let's you watch Youtube videos on your TV or access internet radio stations from across the world).

I'm extremely pleased with mine.

http://www.nowtv.com/box

[hc4361]

Tivo is exclusive to Virgin, I think.

[hc4361]

Now TV is £14 with a bundle online from Curry's

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/search-keywords/xx_xx_30040_xx_xx/now%2Btv%2Bbox/xx-20_xx_xx_xx_1-3-4-5-criteria.html?srcid=198&cmpid=ppc~0045_%28DTP%29_TV_deals_LSTV-Longtail~Now_TV_Box~LT&mctag=gg_goog_7904

[Buenchico]

Well done, Hc4361.

I've just checked the carriage charges on that package, as I thought that they might make it not such a good deal as it appears. However carriage is free (or you can buy online, at the web price, and collect in store) so it really does save an extra couple of quid compared to Asda's price.

[hc4361]

Same deal at PC World if that is closer.

[hc4361]

Have I got this right? Buy from J Lewis and save £2 on the cost of 6 months' entertainment pass and get a free Now box?
http://www.johnlewis.com/now-tv-hd-smart-tv-box-entertainment-bundle-with-six-month-subscription/p1115147

[hc4361]

Same price at Argos

[Buenchico]

^^^Nearly all (or all?) PC World and Curry's branches have merged into the same sites now anyway. For example, they used to have two separate stores on a trading park in Ipswich but they've now abandoned one store and moved in together in the other. They've done the same thing in Colchester and Chelmsford and probably in most other towns (which, since they're just different trading names for the same firm, seems to make a lot of sense).

[anotheoldgit]

Buenchico

Thank you so much for all that valuable information, it would seem that it is better to go for your box than that dongle. Also the added 2 moths movie pass would be ideal.

Thank you also hc4361 for you added input.

[hc4361]

Let us know how you get on with it, AOG :D

[Gromit]

The NowTV box is brilliant. The box itself is £9.99 and then you buy monthly passes. I bought mine when it was on offer for £30 with a 6 month Entertainment Pass. It has been worth every penny.

You can register 4 devices to it, and use 2 at the same time. I gave away my Now box because I have a AppleTV which has the Now app and a better User Interface. I have an iPad with the Now App, so I can watch on there. I gave my friends who I gave the Now box to my password so they view, and another friend has an AppleTV box so she uses it. So between 3 households, we are watching a lot of telly.

On the whole it is very reliable. Occassionally at peak times you may have to try to get on a couple of times. Your broadband must be good and preferable uncapped.

It is great for binge watching (several epusodes one after the other).

I am currently binge watching a Sherlock Holmes series called 'Elementary', after having watched 3 series of 'The Blacklist'.

I do not have a TV licence, so the NowTV box is ideal because no licence is need to watch catch up programmes.

The Now box also comes with BBC iPlayer and other catch up apps, so you can view full screen on your TV.

Highly recommended.





The user interface is a bit naff.

[Gromit]

Just looked on the NowTV site and the 6 months entertaiment pass and box is £34.99. I think a 1 month pass is £6.99, so the 6 month bundle is even better value.