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.
The BBC Sounds app, allowing users to access radio, podcasts, and playlists from the BBC, is now available on some Freeview Play devices.
Humax have confirmed that the FVP-4000T and FVP-5000T Freeview Play recorders can access the app via the Explore Freeview Play interface, which can be found on channel 100 when the device is connected to the internet.
It has not been confirmed if other Humax devices, or devices from other manufacturers, can access the app.
In a real world trial, Virgin Media has successful delivered 2.2 Gbps broadband speeds to homes in Thatcham, Berkshire, using its fibre rich network. The proof of concept trail showcased the speeds that can be achieved via its existing network, without the need for additional infrastructure.
The speeds were achieved using the Hub 4 router, already standard with Virgin Media’s Gigabit broadband service, already available to 3.7 million homes. The speeds were independently verified by SamKnows.
In the future, multi-gigabit speeds will allow households to instantly and simultaneously stream boxsets and video games instantly and simultaneously with resolutions of upwards of 8K, and carry out tasks such as video calls without any delay.
Nick Jr’s learning subscription service Noggin is launching on Amazon Prime Video Channels, as an add-on subscription. The service will be available on all devices with access to the Prime Video app.
Noggin is aimed at pre-school children, and offers educational content based around popular children’s characters, such as Dora the Explorer.
The existing service More Milkshake is being merged into Noggin, and will continue to exist as a separate brand.
The service will cost an additional £2.99 on top of the Prime subscription fee.
According to the BBC’s annual report from April 2019 to March 2020, the BBC is still the most used media organisation in the UK, with 41 million users a day.
90% of the population use the BBC each week, and this grew to 94% in March as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The BBC iPlayer recorded a record 4.8 billion requests to stream programmes during the period covered by the report.
Norfolk and Suffolk Constabulary Cyber, Intelligence and Serious Organised Crime Directorate have issued warning notices to the users of a pirate streaming service. The users were all believed to be customers of GE Hosting.
The notice warns users of the penalties for using such a service, and is believed to be the first of its kind. If the notice is ignored, investigation and prosecution may follow.
The move follows ongoing action against against illegal streaming services across the UK.
From today (21st September 2020), Sky Sports is streaming all 5 matches of the T20 Women’s Cricket series between England and the West Indies for free.
The coverage is available on the Sky Sports YouTube channel, in addition to live coverage on the Sky Sports Cricket Channel.
This is the schedule:
ViacomCBS has unveiled the brand for its premium content streaming service, which will be called Paramount +.
The service will include movies, original content, premium scripted series, kids, comedy, entertainment, reality, and specialist factual content.
It has not been confirmed if and when the service will come to the UK. The global role out will begin in 2021.
An additional £22 million is being invested into the UK Government’s broadband voucher scheme. This subsidises the cost of installing high speed internet connections to homes and businesses in rural areas of England.
This will benefit streaming services, as more people will have broadband capable of accessing these services.
£90 million worth of vouchers have already been issued since May 2019.
The BritBox streaming service has been added to Freesat. The app is now available on the latest generation of 4K compatible receivers. Availability on older devices is not known.
An internet connection is required to use the app.
BritBox allows users to access archive and premium content from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5 on-demand, for a monthly subscription.
A man has been jailed for two years after selling devices to allow illegal access to premium streamed content.
The man from West Yorkshire sold 2,500 such devices, with accompanying illicit subscriptions, between 2015 and 2019. He made £200,000 selling the devices on both ebay and through his website.
The devices allowed users to bypass subscriptions to premium sports, film, and TV content.
