[UK] Convinced her to cancel TV!

[Fed]

Having been in a battle for months, if not years, over our television subscription (first Sky and now Virgin for the past month), I have convinced her (the Mrs) to cancel! She finally agreed yesterday, after I bought an Apple TV and effectively gave her a POC of all of our ripped media. My bill has now been halved overnight... fantastic!

With the Apple TV, we can now view ripped media and youtube. Can anyone offer some cost effective ways to view BBC iPlayer, 4oD and the like? It may be a limitation of my i7 (two cores) or Virgin's standard 'Super Hub', but there is a lot of lag when using AirPlay so that's ruled out.

Also, as we're in a Virgin cable area, there is no aerial on the roof of the house. So now that we've cancelled the TV, can anyone offer some ways to view terrestrial television? I'm guessing a decent standalone aerial is the only option?

 

[OllyW]

You'll need an aerial but this subscription free, HD terrestrial TV and 7 day catch up TV service might be the answer...

http://www.youview.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=youview&utm_campaign=brand

 

[Fed]

You'll need an aerial but this subscription free, HD terrestrial TV and 7 day catch up TV service might be the answer...

More expensive than I would have liked it to be. This may be the time to buy one of the new Mac Minis then (for this and a few other tasks). Is there a way to stream terrestrial (or FreeView channels) directly to a Mac?

 

[YanniDepp]

There is CatchupTV, but to be honest, watching iPlayer and 4OD on an iPad is probably the best way to go.

Watching live TV (even streaming online) requires a TV license (because you're watching it as it's being broadcast). Watching catch-up TV doesn't require a TV license.

When I moved home in May, I cancelled my virgin TV service. Now I just watch Netflix on an Apple TV and iPlayer on the iPad. It actually saved me £7 a month for the TV service, and £12 a month for the TV license. By not having a TV service or a TV license, I'm saving £230 a year. And I can watch video any time I want - without adverts.

 

[Moonjumper]

You can view the channels streamed through tvcatchup, which despite the name is a live TV site. Although quality isn't great and you have to watch an advert or 2 before it starts streaming to your first channel.

http://tvcatchup.com

 

[OllyW]

More expensive than I would have liked it to be. This may be the time to buy one of the new Mac Minis then (for this and a few other tasks). Is there a way to stream terrestrial (or FreeView channels) directly to a Mac?

It would have probably been cheaper to stop with Virgin on a basic channels package with a TIVO box.

You can get a TV tuner for your Mac, the one's from Elgato are compatible but I'm not sure if you can AirPlay live TV to your Apple TV.

 

[Fed]

You can view the channels streamed through tvcatchup, which despite the name is a live TV site. Although quality isn't great and you have to watch an advert or 2 before it starts streaming to your first channel.

http://tvcatchup.com

Never heard of that website before. Is that legal and legitimate?

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It would have probably been cheaper to stop with Virgin on a basic channels package with a TIVO box.

I used the TIVO box for two weeks and found it utterly dreadful in comparison to Sky+. I honestly didn't mind paying for Sky+ as it wasn't a bad UI and was very responsive. Whereas Virgin was the total opposite.

I still have my Sky+ box, I wonder if I can do something with that? Hm.

 

[Stampyhead]

Wow, I should have you talk to my wife. I would love to get rid of Sky but she won't hear of it. Our last bill (TV + internet + telephone) was around £120. If it were up to me I'd just keep the internet and lose the other two! My Apple TV is all I ever watch anyway when I'm by myself.

 

[OllyW]

I still have my Sky+ box, I wonder if I can do something with that? Hm.

You should still be able to get quite a few channels without subscription.

I already have Sky digital satellite equipment - what else do I need?

All you need to gain access to the free channels available on the digital satellite platform is a Freesat from Sky viewing card, which costs just £25. If you’d like to access the interactive services available, you’ll also need a working phone line. To purchase a viewing card please phone Sky on 08448 244 400.

 

[chenks]

I used the TIVO box for two weeks and found it utterly dreadful in comparison to Sky+. I honestly didn't mind paying for Sky+ as it wasn't a bad UI and was very responsive. Whereas Virgin was the total opposite.

I still have my Sky+ box, I wonder if I can do something with that? Hm.

BBC iPlayer, ITV player, Demand5 have all been added to the Sky HD boxes (via internet connection). 4OD is being added next year.

if it's easy catchup you wanted, you should have probably stayed with Sky

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You should still be able to get quite a few channels without subscription.

no recording functions though unless you pay £10 a month.

 

[Fed]

BBC iPlayer, ITV player, Demand5 have all been added to the Sky HD boxes (via internet connection). 4OD is being added next year.

Would I be required to inform Sky in order to use it or get it to work? If I don't need to, then perhaps plugging in the Sky box and giving it internet access and then buying an aerial and plugging directly into TV for live terrestrial channels may be the answer!

All the answers given so far are much appreciated

 

[chenks]

Would I be required to inform Sky in order to use it or get it to work? If I don't need to, then perhaps plugging in the Sky box and giving it internet access and then buying an aerial and plugging directly into TV for live terrestrial channels may be the answer!

All the answers given so far are much appreciated

you would need a current Sky HD box, and you would need to activate Sky+ services (at £10 a month).

it is not available to non-subscribers.

 

[Moonjumper]

Never heard of that website before. Is that legal and legitimate?

tvcatchup has been running for several years. I think it would have been closed down by now if it wasn't legitimate.