Category: Connected TV and Online Streaming

This category includes online based streaming services such as TV Player and Pluto TV, along with connected TV platforms such as BT TV and TalkTalk TV, which combine terrestrial channel line ups with additional channels delivered via broadband.

Streaming Service Updates

Here is a summary of some changes which are taking place on online streaming services.

Freesports is joining the STV Player service, and will be available as a 24 hour online stream. For next 3 years, STV will be the exclusive advertising sales agent for Premier Sports’ online subscription services.

Now TV are implementing price increases this month. Most passes are affected, with the Sky Sports Day Pass rising by £1 to £9.99.

The sports streaming and on-demand service Eurosport Player is to arrive on Amzon Fire devices, as part of a collboration between Amazon and the channel’s owner Discovery. Amazon Fire TV, Fire tablets and Echo Show devices will be able to access the service across Europe.

And finally…

Amazon’s Prime streaming service crashed yesterday, affecting access to the US Open tennis competition. Services were restored by early evening.

Ireland: Virgin and Eir to Carry Each Others Sports Channels

In Ireland, Eir and Virgin Media have aggreed a deal which will see their sports channels become available on each others platforms.

Virgin Media Sport will become available to subscribers to of Eir’s sports pack. In return, Virgin Media subscribers will be able to view Eir’s sports channels in Ireland.

The new agreement will come into effect in time for the Rugby World Cup, which kicks off on September 20.

Eleven Sports Suspends Subscriptions

Eleven Sports has suspended subscription payments for UK customers, following the loss of La Liga rights. The La Liga rights failed to sell, and a permanent deal has to be agreed with ITV4 showing some matches as a temporary measure.

Eleven Sports were unable to secure a carriage agreement for a service on a traditional TV platform, following the launch of the online service in 2018. As a result, the channel lost most of its rights to a variety of international football leagues. The last remaining rights were the La Liga matches, for which a basic £4.99 subscription fee was charged.

Eleven Sports has advised customers that the subscription fees have been suspended pending clarification of the La Liga rights beyond the first three matches day. Eleven Sports services in other countries continue unaffected.

ITV4 Continues LaLiga Partnership

The UK rights for LaLiga football failed to sell, however ITV are continuing an existing partnership for the first 3 match days as an interim measure.

Athletic Bilbao v FC Barcelona will be shown tonight (Friday) on ITV4 at 8pm, with FC Barcelona v Real Betis (8pm on Sunday 25th August), and Villareal CF v Real Madrid (8pm on Sunday 1st September) to follow. Highlights programmes will follow each match day.

A last minute alteration to darts coverage on ITV4 has been made, with the darts to be shown either side of the football.

ITV4 is on all linear TV platforms, with additional HD versions on Sky and Virgin media. Coverage of the LaLiga matches will also be available on the ITV Hub on-demand platform.

Further Cuts to TV Player Streaming Service

Yet more channels have been removed from the TV Player online streaming service. The following channels have been removed entirely:

  • BET
  • Clubland
  • Total Country
  • NOW80s
  • BBC Red Button, BBC Parliament, and BBC Alba
  • Showcase
  • Fashion TV
  • S4C
  • Together
  • France24
  • NHK
  • Euronews
  • TRT World
  • Al Jazeera English
  • Russia Today (RT)

Additionally, premium channel Baby TV has also been removed. The changes have taken place in the past week.

Some of the affected channels can be streamed on their own websites.

Note: Going forward, TelevisionSRS will regard TV Player as a minor/insignificant broadcaster/platform. As such, future news posts will be limited, and TV Player will not be included within the resources section.

Half of UK Homes Subscribe to Streaming Services

According to Ofcom’s Media Nations 2019 report, around half of all UK homes now subscribe to at least one online TV streaming platform. In 2018, there was a total of 19.1 million subscriptions, with many households subscribing to more than one services.

The UKs public services broadcasters (BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and S4C) showed over 100 times more original, homegrown shows than the overseas streaming platforms.

Traditional viewing still accounts for around 69% of total TV viewing time, although this continues to drop. Despite the drop, public services broadcasters share remained steady at 52%.

Retro Movies Joins Freesat and Channelbox

Retro Movies has now joined Freesat, and can now be found on channel 307. The channel shows movies from the early to mid 20th century, and was previously on available on Sky channel 327.

Retro Movies is now also available on Freeview streamed channel Channelbox, which can be found on channel 271. Viewers will need a compatible device connected to the internet in order to access Retro Movies through Channelbox.

Retro Movies is not currently available on Virgin Media (cable).

Freeview Adds Live Streaming to Android App

Freeview, the operator of the terrestrial television network in the UK, have update their Android app. Among other features, users can now stream live shows from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 and on demand content from BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, My5, and UKTV Play.

The updates follow on from the release of a similar app for Apple devices earlier this year. Data from the iOS app revealed that many users stream BBC Breakfast or ITVs Good Morning Britain whilst on their way to work. Sports programmes were also popular.

The Android version of the app is compatible with Android 4.4 KitKat or above, and requires wifi or a mobile data connection. The app can be downloaded for free from the Google Play store. Other features include a 15 day guide for all Freeview channels.

Eleven Sports – Is It Coming or Going?

Following on from the report that Eleven Sports had handed back its Ofcom licenses, they have reappeared on Ofcom’s list of cable and satellite license holders. There a three services listed; Eleven Sports 1 UK, Eleven Sports 2 UK, and Eleven Extra Bel (presumably the latter is a Belgium service).

This suggests that they are still planning on launching a ‘conventional’ channel in the UK, but could also be an error on Ofcom’s list. The full list of satellite and cable license holders can be view on Ofcom’s website.

Eleven Sports continues to operate in the UK online.