Now TV (presented as NOW TV) is a telecommunications company with operations in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, and Italy. Now TV provides contract-free subscription internet television, broadband internet, and landline telephone services. The majority of services available by Now TV are designed to cater for consumers who do not want to be tied to a contract.
Now TV was first announced in the UK in February 2012 as an internet television service, and launched on 17 July 2012 originally offering a Sky Cinema subscription; from March 2013 offering a Sky Sports subscription; from October 2013 offering an entertainment television channels subscription; and from June 2016 offering a children's television channels subscription. On 24 June 2016 the Now TV internet television service was launched in Italy. On 29 June 2016, Now Broadband was launched in the UK. On 26 April 2017 the Now TV internet television service was launched in the Republic of Ireland. Now Broadband is not currently available in Ireland or Italy with no future plans announced.
Video Now TV (Sky plc)
Accessing Now TV television content
Television content is available on a number of different platforms providing access via big screen and small screen mobile devices. In the UK, Ireland and Italy four devices can be registered onto one Now TV account. In the UK and Ireland two devices can stream Now TV content at the same time as standard; in Italy this is possible by subscribing to the "Option +" subscription. The service currently offers streaming of up to 720p resolution depending on the playback device and uses adaptive bitrate streaming to minimise disruption. In January 2018 Now TV in the UK and Ireland announced that by the end of 2018 consumers will be able to stream Now TV television content in 1080p resolution on all playback devices supporting that resolution. 720p live streaming and 1080p video on demand content is offered on Now TV in Italy as an optional extra subscription. In January 2018 Now TV in the UK and Ireland announced that consumers will be able to download on demand content on their mobile devices for offline access to content while on the go and/or for smoother playback for those with slower internet connections: this feature will start being rolled out during spring 2018.
Now TV Boxes and Stick
Three Now TV boxes and one streaming stick have been launched. The Now TV "White" Box is no longer officially available as it is succeeded by the Now TV "Black" Box. All of the Now TV boxes and the Now TV Streaming Stick provide access to live television channel streams and video on demand content courtesy of the available Entertainment, Sky Cinema, Sky Sports, and Kids Passes. There is limited access to the Roku Channel Store in which an approved list of application software can be downloaded such as BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, My5, Sky Sports Box Office and the Sky Store.
In July 2013 Now TV launched the Now TV "white" box (based on the 2011 Roku LT) allowing consumers when connected to Wi-Fi to stream Now TV content to their television via an analogue audio/video output or an HDMI connection capable of outputting up to 720p video resolution.
In August 2015 Now TV launched the Now TV "black" Box (based on the 2015 Roku 2). It offers the same user interface as the original Now TV "white" box, but with updated technical specifications such as a higher performance CPU, an Ethernet port (in addition to Wi-Fi), a USB port (not currently functional), a microSD card slot (not currently functional), the capability of outputting up to 1080p video resolution via an HDMI connection.. It does not have an analogue audio/video output connection like its "white" box predecessor. The Now TV "black" Box is currently the only Now TV device available in Ireland and Italy.
In July 2016 Now TV launched the Now TV "Smart Box" (based on the 2015 Roku 4) providing the same access as previous boxes, but with updated technical specifications, such as a higher performance CPU and an internal DVB-T/DVB-T2 digital terrestrial television tuner giving the ability to access Freeview and Freeview HD television channels that can be paused and rewound up to 30 minutes. Red Button and interactive services are accessible by pressing the ? button on the Now TV remote control.
In February 2018 Now TV launched the Now TV "Smart Stick" (based on the 2017 Roku Streaming Stick). It is quick and easy to plug it into any display with an HDMI port and offers plug and play portability. The Now TV "Smart Stick" is the first Now TV device to include a Wi-Fi Direct remote control with voice search allowing users to search movies and shows by name, or by favourite actors or directors, by talking into the "Smart Stick" remote. Apps can also be launched via voice search by users saying the name of the app they wish to launch. The Now TV "Smart Stick" has a feature called "Hotel connect" which allows users to connect to Wi-Fi networks that require signing in to the Wi-Fi network through a web browser.
Now TV television content
Now TV offers four channel packages in the UK, three channel packages in Ireland, and four channel packages in Italy, all providing live streaming and video on demand.
Now TV television content in the UK and Ireland
The subscriptions in both the UK and Ireland are branded as "Now TV Passes": Entertainment Pass, Sky Cinema Pass, Sky Sports Pass, and a Kids Pass. It was announced on 17 May 2017 that reality TV video on demand service Hayu will launch on Now TV in the UK and Ireland during 2018 with no specific date specified for either launch. On 5 December 2017 live streaming and video on demand of television channel Syfy was added as part of the Entertainment Month Pass in the UK and Ireland. Some programmes may not be available for live streaming due to licensing rights and legal restrictions.
Now TV Passes
Roaming while abroad
Now TV Passes that have already been subscribed to and made active while within either the UK or Ireland can be accessed in the same way for up to 30 days at a time in the following countries:
Now TV television content in Italy
The subscriptions in Italy are branded as "Now TV Tickets": Entertainment Ticket, Series TV Ticket, Cinema Ticket, and Sports Ticket. Tickets are offered within two main subscription packages: Now TV Mobile and Now TV All Screens. The monthly Now TV Mobile subscription includes Entertainment and Series TV tickets that can be used to watch on tablets and smartphones. The Sky Sport Ticket is not available to use on tablets and smartphones. The Now TV All Screens subscription offers a choice of one ticket alone (any one excluding Sky Sports), two tickets (any two excluding Sky Sports), or three tickets (any three excluding Sky Sports). When subscribed to the Entertainment, Series TV, and/or Sky Cinema tickets an additional monthly subscription is available to consumers to receive 720p live streaming and 1080p video on demand content, allowing up to two devices at the same time. Some programmes may not be available for live streaming due to licensing rights and legal restrictions. By using the Now TV app, Now TV Tickets that have already been subscribed to and made active while within Italy can be accessed in the same way for up to 37 days at a time in other countries that are members of the European Union.
Maps Now TV (Sky plc)
Now Broadband
Now Broadband includes unlimited broadband internet with a choice of three different options: up to 17 Mbit/s cable broadband (marketed as "Brilliant Broadband"); up to 38 Mbit/s fibre-optic broadband (marketed as "Fab Fibre"); or up to 76 Mbit/s fibre-optic broadband (marketed as "Super Fibre"). Now Broadband includes a landline telephone service with a choice of either pay-as-you-go calls (no monthly charge); unlimited calls to UK landlines and mobile numbers on weekday evenings and all day Saturday and Sunday; or 24/7 unlimited calls to UK landline and mobile numbers. Now Broadband is offered either without a contract or a 12 month contract to reduce costs. Now Broadband is only available in the UK, but not in Ireland or Italy.
Now Broadband Hubs
All Now Broadband packages currently include a router marketed as the "Now Broadband Hub Two". The "Now Broadband Hub Two" (NR801) is a re-branded Sky Q Hub (ER115) and is of the Wireless-AC standard, using ISM band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies. The original "Now Broadband Hub" (NR102) is a re-branded Sky Hub 2 (SR102) and is of the Wireless-N standard, using the 2.4 GHz frequency. The use of other routers is possible but Now Broadband does not provide support for third party equipment.
Now Broadband Buddy
All Now Broadband customers have access to free internet protection with a site filter marketed as "Broadband Buddy", designed to keep consumers safe while online on any device connected to the internet through Now Broadband. There are three age rating settings: "PG" which only allows web browsing suitable for everyone; "13" which allows only web browsing suitable for teens and older; and "18" which only allows web browsing suitable for adults. Consumers who want custom protection can manually allow or block access to specific websites or website categories and can also set Now "Broadband Buddy" to automatically change the 18 age rating setting on and off at a particular time of each day. Both phishing and malware protection is available to prevent the collection of private information without permission while browsing the internet, and to prevent viruses infecting any devices in use.
References
External links
- Official website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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