Plusnet TV closing

After receiving an email last month that Plusnet TV is closing and I will lose access to the BT Sport package, I contacted customer services about

If you’d like to keep a TV service then as we are part of the BT family, we’re able to bring you a range of options so you can access YouView along with additional TV content. If you’d like to discuss switching to BT or decide to end your service please call us on 0800 013 2632.

It appears customer services have zero options other than using the BT Sport app on a mobile. Nothing about accessing YouView.

So it's goodbye Plusnet after being switched to them from Madasafish in 2013.

In reply to a post by PeterTheBike:

After receiving an email last month that Plusnet TV is closing and I will lose access to the BT Sport package, I contacted customer services about

If you’d like to keep a TV service then as we are part of the BT family, we’re able to bring you a range of options so you can access YouView along with additional TV content. If you’d like to discuss switching to BT or decide to end your service please call us on 0800 013 2632.

It appears customer services have zero options other than using the BT Sport app on a mobile. Nothing about accessing YouView.

So it's goodbye Plusnet after being switched to them from Madasafish in 2013.

i remember when Plusnet really pushed their T.V service, took me a while to get them to stop sending me emails and text, it was only when they phoned me about it and I told them I don't have TV licence that they stopped.
I wonder why they are stopping it, I know people are choosing different ways to watch stuff these days and the You View platform is getting a bit old now, not that it was great when it was first released. Maybe they are trying to get people to jump to the more expensive BT services.

i think it is possible to watch BT sports on a firestick and a Roku, I found this on the BT website

Also, if your TV have a way of casting, you may be able to cast from your phone.

My Plusnet-supplied Youview box has continued to work faultlessly years after the TV trial I was part of ended. I'm not interested in BT Sport or any other sports channel, nor any of the extra channels that were available (there are plenty of other ways of getting the stuff I like) so I'm happy.

The box is standard YouView and so should continue working all the time YouView exists. The bolt ons are what PlusNet will be stopping.

In reply to a post by PeterTheBike:

I wonder why they are stopping it,

I think plus.net is being positioned as the value brand. EE as the middle brand and BT for those who don't mind the price. Hence no tv extras with no frills plus.net.

Its got a bit muddled though as plus.net is now one of the last remaining ones with a proper email service (not to mention usenet) while EE has jettisoned its email and only includes a telephone line for calls if you pay extra, but in fairness has better support with a Plymouth call center that actually answers.

Though it is a mystery why they can't just sell BT tv channels via all isp's like netflix or the iplayer does? I know they used to do clever multi casting stuff but you would have thought modern speeds would have allowed it.

In reply to a post by mnbvcxz:

I think plus.net is being positioned as the value brand. EE as the middle brand and BT for those who don't mind the price. Hence no tv extras with no frills plus.net.

Its got a bit muddled though as plus.net is now one of the last remaining ones with a proper email service (not to mention usenet) while EE has jettisoned its email and only includes a telephone line for calls if you pay extra, but in fairness has better support with a Plymouth call center that actually answers.

Though it is a mystery why they can't just sell BT tv channels via all isp's like netflix or the iplayer does? I know they used to do clever multi casting stuff but you would have thought modern speeds would have allowed it.

Email service? I presume you mean for support.

I don't know how much EE costs now, I don't take much notice, as I don't really have much to do with anyone that is on it these days.
No way would I go back to BT, for the price they charge their customer service is awful and to be honest their service offers me nothing more than what plusnet does.

The problem with broadband providers offering Tv services now is that there is so much choice, when BT started their TV service, there was sky and top up TV i think and that was more or less it. ITV digital had gone belly up by that time.
Now there are so many ways to get video services, that offering a TV service is not going to pull people in.
you view was not a great system anyway, the start of it the boxes were slow and unreliable, no doubt they are better now, but Freeview play have more or less taken that market now, even to the extent of being built into TV sets. My hisense have TV play built in, not that I have used it, so I have no idea what it is like. the last thing I read was that you could not go back in time on HD channels, but had to use SD, which is not ideal.

Do BBC users still have to change back to Sd to get local news? Yes I know this is not an you view or freeview problem, but is a BBC problem.

The only broadband provider who can do ok on offering Tv with their broadband packages is Sky, but only because of the way they work.

In reply to a post by mnbvcxz:

Email service? I presume you mean for support.

Actually I meant an outgoing SMTP email server. Plus net is one of the last to offer one, authenticated too. Sadly now quite rare. I value it anyway.

You have a Plusnet-provided email address, independent of hotmail, gmail, any other email address you have Adrian . It probably shows up in your Control Panel or whatever they call it. I forget what comes after the @.

It was created when you signed up to them. It did not exist before then.

You can send and receive using it and the Plusnet mail servers.

It almost certainly has many unread by you emails in it, most of which will have been copied to your main email address.

Do BBC users still have to change back to Sd to get local news? Yes I know this is not an you view or freeview problem, but is a BBC problem.

It is a while since I have used freeview but I am pretty sure that because it is delivered from the mast you can get news in HD. Whereas on Sky you have to switch to the SD channel because they don't broadcast every region in HD as they would use a large number of streams to do so.

In reply to a post by ian72:

Do BBC users still have to change back to Sd to get local news? Yes I know this is not an you view or freeview problem, but is a BBC problem.

It is a while since I have used freeview but I am pretty sure that because it is delivered from the mast you can get news in HD. Whereas on Sky you have to switch to the SD channel because they don't broadcast every region in HD as they would use a large number of streams to do so.

Our local transmitter (Chatton) does not carry the full range of multiplexes and we have to switch back to SD to see the local news on BBC. There are also some of the less prominent Freeview channels available on other transmitters which we cannot receive.

There's only one BBC1 HD channel on Freeview, Freesat or Sky.
You have to go to the non HD BBC1 to get regional news.

Thanks
Dan

It appears to be the same box as the BT TV one, just without their branding on.

When I left Plusnet my Plusnet TV box changed to generic YouView branding on screen, however now I have moved to BT as my ISP the box has BT branding on screen.

It seems like the on screen branding is controlled by IP address or similar.

In reply to a post by zyborg47:

Do BBC users still have to change back to Sd to get local news? Yes I know this is not an you view or freeview problem, but is a BBC problem.

That is rumoured to be ending on 21st October.

Apologies, you're right - I was sure I used to have a service that allowed you to watch the local region in HD but I think it may have been that Freesat might display one of the BBC One HD channels rather than just displaying the message saying you had to switch to SD - but I may be remembering that wrong as well as it is some time since I had Freesat as well.

In reply to a post by danielhyde:

There's only one BBC1 HD channel on Freeview, Freesat or Sky.
You have to go to the non HD BBC1 to get regional news.

Thanks
Dan

Millions do have it actually.

Edit: by that i mean there's BBC ONE HD (Scotland/Wales/NI) with full regional news. I believe it's only in England you get a generic screen during the regional news on BBC ONE HD

Edited by j0hn83 (Fri 17-Sep-21 21:27:46)

In reply to a post by pluralist:

You have a Plusnet-provided email address, independent of hotmail, gmail, any other email address you have Adrian . It probably shows up in your Control Panel or whatever they call it. I forget what comes after the @.

It was created when you signed up to them. It did not exist before then.

You can send and receive using it and the Plusnet mail servers.

It almost certainly has many unread by you emails in it, most of which will have been copied to your main email address.

i was going to say I don't have a plusnet email address as when I started with plus net they asked if I wanted one, and I said no. I have just had a look on my account on plusnet and there is something there, but it must have been recent, because it never used to be there.

I gave up with ISP email years ago and while I still do have a yahoo one and a google one, they are not used, I have my own domain and use one and one as an email provider.

In reply to a post by kasg:

Do BBC users still have to change back to Sd to get local news? Yes I know this is not an you view or freeview problem, but is a BBC problem.

That is rumoured to be ending on 21st October.


How many years have they taken to do that? Freeview still have HD channels start at 101 or something like that for the main channels? It have been a while since I looked at Freeview, i stuck my TV to the aerial for 5 minutes when I got it last year just to see if the tuner worked, but did not take much noticed what channel was what, just wanted to see if i got a picture.

it is all out of date to be honest, you view and Freeview., better off with analogue

In reply to a post by j0hn83:

In reply to a post by danielhyde:

There's only one BBC1 HD channel on Freeview, Freesat or Sky.
You have to go to the non HD BBC1 to get regional news.

Thanks
Dan

Millions do have it actually.

Edit: by that i mean there's BBC ONE HD (Scotland/Wales/NI) with full regional news. I believe it's only in England you get a generic screen during the regional news on BBC ONE HD

i presume that is because Scotland and Wales only have one local news as such, where in England, there are a load of local news. Where I live it used to be Midlands News, no idea what it is now, I presume it still is. Not really local unless you are interested in Birmingham and the Black country.

In reply to a post by zyborg47:

In reply to a post by j0hn83:

In reply to a post by danielhyde:

There's only one BBC1 HD channel on Freeview, Freesat or Sky.
You have to go to the non HD BBC1 to get regional news.

Thanks
Dan

Millions do have it actually.

Edit: by that i mean there's BBC ONE HD (Scotland/Wales/NI) with full regional news. I believe it's only in England you get a generic screen during the regional news on BBC ONE HD

i presume that is because Scotland and Wales only have one local news as such, where in England, there are a load of local news. Where I live it used to be Midlands News, no idea what it is now, I presume it still is. Not really local unless you are interested in Birmingham and the Black country.

Both Freeview and Freesat have rubbish channel numbering, Freeview 101... are HD so makes a bit of sence, but SD +1 channels are all over the place. Freesat numbering is a mess BBC 1 sd 101, BBC 1 hd 106, and other are all over the place, it also seems lately C4 has abandoned HD on Freesat or it doesn't work on older Freesat TV's.

Is there simple way to access online channels without having to take a 'channel package' like Now?

If it isn't a smart TV, then dongles like Chromecast, Firestick, Roku and more.

I only had a Mark 1 Chromecast my old TV. You get the app on your phone/tablet/computer and cast/control from that. Not all programmes are enabled for casting though.

Edited by pluralist (Mon 20-Sep-21 11:38:29)

pluralist - I have a 'smart TV' (Samsung, so no FV Play) AND a Firestick.- what do I do now?

No idea about Firestick. Like I said, I had Chromecast.

But surely the TV connects to your router and has a browser so you can enter (painfully) the URL of the station/programme you want?

My Sony has loads of preinstalled apps on screen as well, not just NOW. Some need installing to the screen menus, like from Android Play or Apple Store on a phone or tablet.

Is there anything here that helps?

"But surely the TV connects to your router and has a browser so you can enter (painfully) the URL of the station/programme you want?"

Indeed, but what, for example, is the URL for National Geographic? How do I find a URL?

To get Nat Geo TV channel you need

At National Geographic we believe in the power of science and exploration to bring you compelling entertaining stories from around the world. You can find us on Sky (channel 129), Virgin Media (channel 266), BT (channel 317) , TalkTalk (channel 317) and NOW TV. Our HD channels are available on: Sky 824, Virgin Media 268 and BT 373.

We've now come full circle! I asked if it was accessible WITHOUT one of those services and pluralist suggested I could browse to a URL.

Edited by mikejp (Mon 20-Sep-21 17:32:16)

I don't believe it is - as far as I know they don't do it over the web unless you use illegal services.

You could get some stuff here but not the main channels.

Edited by ian72 (Mon 20-Sep-21 17:58:47)

Simple, connect a pc to your tv and everything in the world is free and there are some good android apps that will run on a pc for any service you wish to watch for free. Without a PC connected, the usual smart tv has a rubbish selection of apps, so the way to go then is a Roku dongle or a Roku TV with everything built in including thousands of apps, I can recommend both.
https://channelstore.roku.com/en-gb/browse/recommended

OK, professor - I'm interested. Can you explain (simply) how my PC will allow me to:
1 watch Nat Geo (for example) on the PC please?
2 Then on the TV.

How Roku will do the same for the TV

NOW doesn't seem to know about National Geographic.

On a pc go direct to nationalgeographic.com. Or there is the Android app that will also run on a Windows pc within Bluestacks and easy to hook a pc to a big screen tv.
Nat Geo Android App running on my Windos 11 PC.
https://ibb.co/xgHRw02

Thanks, professor - I was aware of that app and it is, I believe, £49.99 a year to access. I was hoping to find a way to access NG directly through a smart TV app.

As far as I can see on my (Samsung) TV the only option is Disney+ at £79.99 a year.

I am surprised that channel providers like NG have not offered single channel subs for the PC without all the other guff!

https://www.nowtv.com/ie/stream/nat-geo-1

VPN's can be useful .

I now have Nat Geo running on my Windows 11 PC from a subscribed Android APK that's out in the wild. PM sent.
It will run on all android and if you install Memu Play Android emulator onto a pc and install the downloaded APK into that you have NAT Geo running on a Windows PC!
You need to run a VPN for US access, proton VPN is a good free one.
https://ibb.co/t43sXwg
https://ibb.co/S3NLSh5

Edited by professor973 (Wed 22-Sep-21 00:25:37)

In reply to a post by burble:

Both Freeview and Freesat have rubbish channel numbering, Freeview 101... are HD so makes a bit of sence, but SD +1 channels are all over the place. Freesat numbering is a mess BBC 1 sd 101, BBC 1 hd 106, and other are all over the place, it also seems lately C4 has abandoned HD on Freesat or it doesn't work on older Freesat TV's.

Sky always had the main channels from 101, when I was younger and did not know any better I thought it was just something to do with the fact it was satellite, now I know different, so I did wonder why Freesat followed suit, maybe to make it easier for people going from Sky.
Freeview i can kind of understand why they had done that since the SD versions of the channels already had the 1 to 5 and since a lot of people did not have HD at the time HD channels was launched, it made sense to put the HD channels higher up.
Now that all new TV sets are HD and I doubt there are many people watching in SD it can change.
Channel 4 have abandoned HD on Freesat for some reason, maybe it is to do with costs. Years ago I was thinking of going for Freesat, I already had the dish, so it made sense, but then changed my mind as I saw a Freeview recorder i liked.

To be honest I can't see myself going back to what people would call normal TV, i am fine with the way I am doing things, there is very little I miss , I do look at the TV guide now and again and think, I am so glad I am not paying for a Tv licence.

Freeview to be honest is an awful service, it was when launched, and it is not much better now, so any service that uses Freeview will be as bad.

"Now that all new TV sets are HD and I doubt there are many people watching in SD it can change."

You do realise that not all channels are HD. Unless a Sky customer pays extra for HD then they only get SD unless they are Sports channels which are in HD (price was increased a few years ago to accommodate this).

In reply to a post by broadband66:

"Now that all new TV sets are HD and I doubt there are many people watching in SD it can change."

You do realise that not all channels are HD. Unless a Sky customer pays extra for HD then they only get SD unless they are Sports channels which are in HD (price was increased a few years ago to accommodate this).

i do know that not all channels are HGD, but I am on about the main ones here, 1 to 5, since most people will have HD, the HD versions can go from 1 to 5 instead of starting with 101.

i am still amazed that people still have to pay more for HD, do entertainment channels still charge extra for H.D?

On Freeview, most channels are SD, saying that most channels are full of rubbish and that includes the main ones as well.

I think we get around 100 channels on freeview, more on freesat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAlDbP4tdqc
😋

In reply to a post by broadband66:

"Now that all new TV sets are HD and I doubt there are many people watching in SD it can change."

You do realise that not all channels are HD. Unless a Sky customer pays extra for HD then they only get SD unless they are Sports channels which are in HD (price was increased a few years ago to accommodate this).

OMG I cannot believe (well I can, but you know what i mean lol) they are still trying to rip people off for what should be the default service. I've not had live TV for many years so don't really pay much attention to the comes and goings of Sky / Virgin Media TV etc.

In reply to a post by zyborg47:

"Now that all new TV sets are HD and I doubt there are many people watching in SD
i am still amazed that people still have to pay more for HD, do entertainment channels still charge extra for H.D?

On Freeview, most channels are SD, saying that most channels are full of rubbish and that includes the main ones as well.

Netflix (which is clearly a streaming service rather than a channel) certainly do make you pay more for higher definition: SD (480p) being £5.99, HD (1080p) is £9.99 and 4K is £13.99 per month.

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

In reply to a post by zyborg47:

"Now that all new TV sets are HD and I doubt there are many people watching in SD
i am still amazed that people still have to pay more for HD, do entertainment channels still charge extra for H.D?

On Freeview, most channels are SD, saying that most channels are full of rubbish and that includes the main ones as well.

Netflix (which is clearly a streaming service rather than a channel) certainly do make you pay more for higher definition: SD (480p) being £5.99, HD (1080p) is £9.99 and 4K is £13.99 per month.

It's not just differences in definition with Netflix though, the amount of devices you can use simultaneously differs with each tier.

The "Basic" plan only allows 1 stream, "Standard" allows 2, and "Premium" allows 4

Edited by Davey_H (Thu 23-Sep-21 18:00:34)