Now TV (UK)
 | |
| Original author(s) | Sky plc |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Sky plc |
| Initial release | 17 July 2012 |
| Development status | Active |
| Available in | English |
| Website |
www |
Now TV (stylised as NOW TV) is an internet television service owned by Sky plc. It was first announced in February 2012, and launched in the United Kingdom on 17 July 2012 offering only films at first, adding sports in March 2013,[1] and then entertainment channels in October 2013.[2] Now TV is a stand alone service and is not viewable via Sky's digital satellite television service, or through the Sky Go Internet service. Now TV is designed for people who have no existing pay TV service.[3]
Access
Now TV is available on a number of different platforms providing access via both big-screen and small screen mobile devices:[4]
Laptops/Computers[5]
- Now TV Universal App on Microsoft Windows 8 or later.
Please note: You’ll need a Microsoft compatible email address to access the Windows Store (@live, @outlook, @hotmail).
- Now TV Player on Apple Mac OSX 10.6 or later.
If you're a Mac user and you already have Microsoft Silverlight installed, you can use it to watch NOW TV.
If you don't already have Microsoft Silverlight installed, you can no longer download it for Mac, instead you can access Now TV with the NOW TV Player.
Tablets/Smartphones[6]
- Via an app on devices running Android 4.0 or later (From the Google Play).
Please note: You cannot watch on rooted Android devices or devices running CyanogenMod.
- Via an app on devices running iOS 8.0 or later (From the Apple App Store).
Please note: You cannot watch NOW TV on a modified device, or one bought outside the UK.
- Via an app on tablets running Microsoft Windows 8 or later (Windows smartphones are not supported).
Please note: A Microsoft compatible email address is needed to access the Windows Store (@live, @outlook, @hotmail).
Games consoles[7]
- Via an app on Xbox 360 & Xbox One
- Via an app on PlayStation 3 & PlayStation 4
Set-top boxes[8]
- NOW TV Boxes
Please note: You need a NOW TV account to set up the NOW TV Box, and a Wi-Fi connection. You cannot use your NOW TV Box outside the UK.
- Youview (Movies on-demand only)
- Google Chromecast
- Roku: LT (Purple), XS & 3 (Black)
- EE TV
- Apple TV
Smart TVs and devices[9]
The service offers streams up to 720p resolution depending on the playback device and uses adaptive bitrate streaming to minimise disruption.[10]
Now TV boxes
In July 2013 Sky launched a Now TV-branded Roku streaming box allowing users to stream Now TV content to their TV via an analogue base band connection or an HDMI, currently enabling it to display content from BBC iPlayer, All 4, My5, Spotify, ITV Hub and Sky News.[11] It has limited access to the Roku Channel Store and only a pre-approved list of Channels can be downloaded. As of March 2017 access to the unofficial 'Developer Mode' was removed via a series of software updates.
On 6 August 2015 Sky launched a NOW TV Box (based around a 2015 Roku 2) in black. It offers the same content as the original NOW TV (20130 white box, but has a faster processor, an ethernet port (as well as wi-fi), a USB port and an SD card slot (not functional by default), and is capable of outputting at full HD (1080p) resolution.[12] Unlike the original NOW TV 'white' Box, the NOW TV 'black' Box model does not have an analogue audio/video output socket.
There are currently two NOW TV Boxes officially available - The standard NOW TV 'black' Box and the NOW TV Smart Box. The NOW TV 'black' Box provides access the live channels and on-demand content, courtesy of the available Entertainment, Cinema, Sports and Kids Passes. The NOW TV Smart Box provides the same access, as well as the ability to access Freeview channels courtesy of an internal DVB-T/T2 tuner.[13]
| Now TV 'white' Box | Now TV 'black' Box | Now TV Smart Box | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Released | July 2013 |
August 2015 |
July 2016 |
| Availability | Officially discontinued but still supported |
Officially available and supported |
Officially available and supported |
| Apps | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Sky Store | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Wireless Internet | 802.11 Wi-Fi (b/g/n compatible) with WEP, WPA and WPA2 support |
802.11 dual-band Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n compatible) with WEP, WPA and WPA2 support |
802.11 dual-band Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n compatible) with WEP, WPA and WPA2 support |
| Wired Internet | No |
10/100 Base-T Ethernet |
10/100 Base-T Ethernet |
| USB | No |
Yes (not active/disabled) |
Yes (not active/disabled) |
| Micro SD Slot | No |
Yes (not active/disabled) |
Yes (not active/disabled) |
| Digital Television Tuner | No |
No |
Freeview HD (DVB-T/T2) |
| Pause & Rewind live TV | No |
No |
Yes |
| TV compatibility | Digital over HDMI
Mini-jack to left/right/composite video RCA |
Digital over HDMI |
Digital over HDMI |
| Supported resolution | Up to 720p |
Up to 1080p |
Up to 1080p |
| Processor | Single-core |
Dual-core |
Quad-core |
| Audio output | Analogue Stereo (mini-jack to left/right/composite video RCA) Digital over HDMI (5.1 surround sound pass-through and stereo) |
Digital over HDMI (7.1 and 5.1 surround pass through) |
Digital over HDMI (7.1 and 5.1 surround pass through) |
| Dimensions | 84mm (Length) x 84mm (Width) x 23mm (Height) |
89mm (Length) x 89mm (Width) x 25mm (Height) |
165mm (Length) x 165mm (Width) x 20.5mm (Height) |
| Weight | 85 grams |
141 grams |
432 grams |
| Power Input | 5.2V – 1.0A power adaptor |
5.99V – 2A power adaptor |
12V – 2A power adaptor |
| Power Consumption | Less than 2W (typical) when streaming video |
Less than 3.5W (typical) when streaming video |
Less than 14.2W (Active)
9.5W (Active Standby)
0.6W (Passive Standby) |
Available content
As of January 2017, NOW TV offers both live streaming and on-demand content from the following channels. Some programmes may not be available for live streaming due to rights restrictions.[14]
| The following channels are available with an Entertainment Month Pass[15] |
|---|
| Sky 1 |
| Sky Arts |
| Sky Atlantic |
| Sky Living |
| Comedy Central |
| Discovery Channel |
| Fox |
| Gold |
| ITV Encore |
| MTV |
| Nat Geo Wild |
| ABC Studios (On-demand only) |
| ITV (On-demand only) |
| Channel 4 (On-demand only) |
| Viceland (On-demand only) |
| The following channels are available with a Sky Cinema Month Pass[16] |
|---|
| Sky Cinema Premiere |
| Sky Cinema Drama & Romance |
| Sky Cinema Superheroes |
| Sky Cinema Disney |
| Sky Cinema Family |
| Sky Cinema Action & Adventure |
| Sky Cinema Comedy |
| Sky Cinema Crime & Thriller |
| Sky Cinema Hits |
| Sky Cinema Sci Fi & Horror |
| Sky Cinema Select |
| The following Sky Sports channels are available when subscribed to a day/week/month pass[17] |
|---|
| Sky Sports News |
| Sky Sports Main Event |
| Sky Sports Premier League |
| Sky Sports Football |
| Sky Sports Cricket |
| Sky Sports Golf |
| Sky Sports F1 |
| Sky Sports Action |
| Sky Sports Arena |
| The following channels are available with a Kids Month Pass[18] |
|---|
| Nickelodeon |
| Nick Jr. |
| Nicktoons |
| Cartoon Network |
| Boomerang |
| Cartoonito |
| Sky Kids
(On-demand only) |
| Kids Vids
(On-demand only) |
| CBBC
(On-demand only) |
| CBeebies
(On-demand only) |
| Milkshake!
(on-demand only) |
References
- ↑ "Pay-as-you-go Sky Sports comes to NOW TV". Corporate.sky.com. 19 March 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
- ↑ "BSkyB Corporate | Now's the time for NOW TV". Corporate.sky.com. 16 July 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
- ↑ Stallard, Katie (17 July 2012). "No Dish, No Contract - Sky Launches NOW TV". News.sky.com. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
- ↑ "Supported Devices for NOW TV". Now TV. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
- ↑ http://help.nowtv.com/article/Supported-devices
- ↑ http://help.nowtv.com/article/Supported-devices
- ↑ http://help.nowtv.com/article/Supported-devices
- ↑ http://help.nowtv.com/article/Supported-devices
- ↑ http://help.nowtv.com/article/Supported-devices
- ↑ http://help.nowtv.com/article/Streaming-Quality
- ↑ Lawler, Richard. "Sky's Now TV box is a £9.99 Roku clone that streams iPlayer and more". Engadget.com. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
- ↑ http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/134825-now-tv-box-2015-vs-now-tv-box-vs-roku-2-what-s-the-difference
- ↑ http://www.nowtv.com/tv-boxes
- ↑ "Watch Movies, Films & Sports Online - NOW TV". Help.nowtv.com. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
- ↑ "NOW TV Entertainment Month Pass | NOW TV - Help". help.nowtv.com. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
- ↑ "Sky Cinema Month Pass | NOW TV - Help". help.nowtv.com. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
- ↑ "Sky Sports Day, Week or Month Pass | NOW TV - Help". help.nowtv.com. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
- ↑ "NOW TV Kids Month Pass | NOW TV - Help". help.nowtv.com. Retrieved 5 January 2017.