Telly Phone
BT Vision uses a 160GB twin-tuner Freeview DVR whose broadband connection provides extra on-demand programmes. The line-up includes BBC, ITV and Channel 4 catch-up services, kids’ shows, films, ESPN, music videos and premium add-on channels Sky Sports 1 and 2 (£12.30 per month for one or £17.40 for both).
The Gold TV service costs £12.50 per month with a free box. This gives unlimited access to all except Sky Sports and pay-per-view movies, which cost extra. Alternatively you can buy the box for £60 and subscribe to one ‘pack’ at £7 a month, or pay £90 without a TV subscription. A £30 set-up fee applies to all options.
BT Vision is available to anyone who can get at least 2Mbps via BT Total Broadband (being a BT product, they are tied together). ESPN and Sky Sports are delivered over Freeview, so to receive those and normal Freeview, you’ll need reliable coverage. There are some downloadable HD TV shows and films on demand, including a smattering of 3D.
BT Vision usage doesn’t count towards data allowances. Unlike Virgin, there’s no separate subnet for the service, though BT and its routers prioritise Vision traffic. With the rollout of BT’s Infinity fibre optic network, there are plans to stream about 20 additional pay-TV channels through multicasting.
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COMMENTS
About as close as you can get..
would most likely be the PS3.
Blu-Ray
Freeview Inc PVR (PlayTV)
Upscaled DVD
iPlayer
4OD
ITV Player
Lovefilm
MUBI
PSN Video Store
SkyPlayer(soon)
YoutubeXL
Not bad for 1 box that's £180.
"unfrorgiveably unusably awful crap boxes from Virgin"??
Think you're a bit out of date - the Samsung V+HD box I've got is works fine and I personally think is better than Sky's offering.. I am considering upgrading to the Tivo though as it has more storage space and more than a weeks tv guide (the only 2 things I find a pain sometimes)..
I used to have Virgin...
But then I had 4 outages, lasting 5-8 days each, in the space of one month, I was left without television from 20th December until 6th January, no refund, even after a letter to the boss, so I cancelled my subscription, and have been telly-less for two years, and I love it. Okay, I have reasonable broadband, so there is iPlayer and other services, but I
Like everything else with Virgin, when it works it's very very good, but when it's bad, it's horrid.
@Gansta
"The UI is maybe a bit slow ( but not as much as you say)"
Yes, yes it is as slow as I say. I know because I spent a frustrating time trying to set up recording for WSB by searching for "motorsport" under the "TV Channels"
"You can't watch LiveTV while searching OnDemand (Probably a marketing decision rather than a technical one)"
Yes, I know this and I really don't care why it is that way; it's a PITA and affects my experience as a user.
"You can't hide Unsubscribed channels - So what? If you're on the V+ package you probably have XL anyway."
I can't view them and I don't want to have them cluttering up the guide, that's why.
"Why would you need to use Ethernet and USB? The software has no function for that - the recordings are encrypted for a reason."
You assumed I want to lift media off the V+ box and you assume wrong. I want to view media I already have on my network. The V+ box is running on a Linux distro, including "smbfs" would have been a snap.
"Have you heard of a Wireless Router? Never trust bundled routers."
I'll agree on that, I'm using the bundled one at the moment but considering buying another one and chucking DD-WRT on it.
Most of the above will be moot once I get around to setting up Myth with Freesat. The V+ box will either be returned or can just gather dust.
