Home » UK ISP News Archive » Article Tag: IPTV (334 Posts)

Articles for Category Tag - IPTV

NOW TV Add National Geographic Channel to Streaming Service

3rd April, 2020 (2 Comments)

Sky’s sibling UK ISP and TV streaming service, NOW TV (NOW Broadband), has just added the ‘National Geographic Channel‘ to their existing Entertainment Pass, which costs £8.99 per month. The additional Pay TV channel replaces Nat Geo Wild. As usual this covers both the live channel and a related slate of on-demand content.

COVID-19 Netgem TV and Vodafone Update on Internet Traffic

2nd April, 2020 (1 Comment)

Both Netgem TV and UK telecoms giant Vodafone have separately today released some updated statistics on the impact that the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) crisis is having on broadband and video streaming usage, which has naturally seen a big increase since the situation began because many people are now stuck at home.

Virgin Media UK Gives Away 7 Kids Pay TV Channels for Free

31st March, 2020 (0 Comments)

Customers of broadband ISP Virgin Media, specifically those who also take one of their Pay TV packages, can now get access to seven of its “most popular” children’s channels, at no extra cost, to help keep them distracted during the current COVID-19 (Coronavirus) lockdown. Access to these will remain free until 21st April 2020.

Virgin Media is First UK Pay TV Provider to Add BBC Sounds App

24th March, 2020 (0 Comments)

Broadband ISP Virgin Media has today become the first Pay TV provider in the United Kingdom to add the BBC Sounds app, which via their v6 set-top-box (STB) platform will give customers access to listen to all of the broadcasters live and on-demand radio, music and podcast content.

COVID-19 – Facebook and Instagram Reduce Video Quality

23rd March, 2020 (7 Comments)

Facebook and Instagram have today become the latest internet content provider to “temporarily reduce” the quality (lower bitrates) of their video streams in order to help UK and EU broadband ISPs cope with demand during the Coronavirus outbreak. Netflix, YouTube, Apple TV, Amazon and Disney+ have already made such a move.

COVID-19 – Disney+ to Reduce Video Streaming Quality by 25%

22nd March, 2020 (14 Comments)

The new Disney+ streaming service, which is due to launch on Tuesday 24th March 2020 next week, has perhaps unsurprisingly become the latest online video platform to confirm they will reduce their bitrates (image quality) in order to help UK and EU broadband ISPs cope with demand during the Coronavirus outbreak.

COVID-19 – Amazon Agrees to Reduce Video Streaming Quality

20th March, 2020 (17 Comments)

The latest to join Netflix (here) and YouTube (here) in reducing the bitrate of their streams – so as to help broadband ISPs deal with rising levels of network demand – is Amazon (Prime Video), which claims to be applying a similar measure “where needed,” such as when requested by internet providers and local authorities.

Virgin Media UK Release New Movies from Universal, Online

20th March, 2020 (0 Comments)

Broadband ISP Virgin Media has joined Sky (Sky Broadband, Sky TV) in reaching a new agreement with Universal Pictures, which means that NBCUniversal titles that are currently in theatrical release will also be available on-demand to customers via Virgin’s Store from today.

COVID-19 – YouTube Cuts Video Stream Quality to Standard Def

20th March, 2020 (9 Comments)

Internet video streaming giant YouTube has today announced that it will follow Netflix (here) by reducing the quality of their streams across the EU in order to help broadband ISPs deal with rising levels of network use. But unlike Netflix they’ve “temporarily” switched “all traffic in the EU to standard definition by default.”

Netflix Lowers Video Quality to Aid Broadband ISP Congestion

19th March, 2020 (38 Comments)

In a somewhat unusual development Netflix, the global internet video streaming giant, has responded to some concerns about broadband congestion in other European countries by agreeing with the EU to lower the quality (bitrate) of its videos for the next 30 days (i.e. easing the strain on fixed line ISPs and mobile operators).

Sky UK to Release New Movies at Home and Cinema on Same Day

17th March, 2020 (30 Comments)

A decision by Universal Pictures (NBCUniversal) means that, as part of their response to the new Coronavirus (COVID-19), Sky UK (ISP Sky Broadband) will join Comcast in the USA, and a “variety of on-demand services,” to release new films at the same time as they become available in the cinema.

BT Open Remote Record Feature for All YouView TV Box Owners

16th March, 2020 (21 Comments)

Broadband ISP BT has kindly decided to open up the remote record functionality within their TV app so that all users with a UK YouView (IPTV) set-top-box, even if they don’t have a Pay TV subscription with the operator, can access it once support for YouView’s own app is removed at the end of March 2020.

O2 Becomes Exclusive UK Mobile Network Distributor of Disney+

16th March, 2020 (14 Comments)

Mobile operator O2 has today signed a new deal that will make them the “exclusive UK mobile [network] distributor” of the Disney+ video streaming service, which is due to launch this side of the pond on 24th March. New and upgrading Pay Monthly customers will be able to select 6 months free Disney+ when they purchase online.

ISP BT Soft Launch New Premium UK Flexible Pay TV Packages UPDATE

18th February, 2020 (12 Comments)

Broadband ISP BT will today soft launch a new range of “flexible” TV packages on 24 month contract terms, which gives subscribers a choice of content bolt-ons that can easily be changed. As part of that the platform has also completed its promise to fully integrate Sky’s NOW TV service via a single bill.

EE Mobile Become Exclusive UK Partner for Netflix Rival BritBox

11th February, 2020 (3 Comments)

Mobile operator EE (BT) has today announced that they’ve become the exclusive partner for the new BritBox video streaming service, which among other things means that customers of their existing Pay Monthly mobile and tablet (4G and 5G) plans will receive a free 6 subscription to the service (starting on 13th March 2020).

Cable ISP Virgin Media UK Extends Partnership with Netflix

10th February, 2020 (1 Comment)

In an unsurprising development Virgin Media’s parent company, Liberty Global, has announced a 3-year extension to their existing distribution deal with Netflix’s popular internet video streaming service. The TV and broadband provider was one of the very first UK ISP’s to fully integrate Netflix into their platform and offer a single bill.

YouView Refocus Away from Direct to Consumer IPTV Products UPDATE

6th February, 2020 (13 Comments)

The YouView platform, which develops hardware and software to support the broadband-based TV (IPTV) services supplied via UK ISPs BT and TalkTalk (as well as retail set-top-boxes), has announced that they’re “refocusing development away from ‘direct to consumer’ products.” Say goodbye to their mobile app!