Digital TV Guides

Watch TV online

By becca.talbot@consumerchoices.co.uk

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Broadband is changing the way we watch TV. Where digital TV released us from the constraints of the TV guide, broadband is releasing us from the TV set itself, with people watching their favourite shows on their computers and laptops. Updated on 11/06/2009.

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Some broadband TV is “live” such as the usually shorter footage found on YouTube and Joost, where users simply search for and watch what they want, other services work as downloads from websites and others are full digital TV packages that deliver content to your TV via your broadband connection.

• Watch 'Live’ TV online
• Catch-up with BT Vision and Sky Player
• Download TV shows to your computer
• Are there any drawbacks to these services?

Watch 'Live’ TV online

This isn’t really live TV but it is live video streaming. You need to have a decent broadband connection speed or pause the video as it “streams”, you can then watch it straight away, but it won’t be saved anywhere on your computer and you’ll have to return to the site if you want to watch it again.

This type of content viewing has become immensely popular and sites like YouTube and Joost are growing at substantial rates. The footage shown on these platforms tends to be no more than around 10 minutes at the most and is user-generated, so people can upload their own videos too.

Catch-up TV with BT Vision and Sky Player

You can now get normal digital TV through your broadband connection from BT Vision (www.btvision.bt.com), Sky Player (skyplayer.sky.com) and Tiscali TV (www.tiscali.co.uk). These connections work in exactly the same way as normal digital TV from Sky (www.sky.com) or Virgin Media (www.virginmedia.com) - it just runs through your broadband connection.

BT Vision has no monthly subscription so it’s essentially a free service once installed. You then have the option of adding any of the subscription packages on a month by month basis. Customers wanting BT Vision must be BT Total Broadband customers.

The Sky Player is Sky's response to the BBC iPlayer. Sky Player (skyplayer.sky.com) is Sky, on your computer. Watch live TV as it's broadcast or catch-up with your favourite shows at a time that suits you. It's available to all customers, even if you're not a Sky TV customer. Tune in to the Sky Player to catch up with your favourite shows, or see whether Sky TV is any good.

Download TV shows to your computer

There are a whole host of platforms from which you can now download and watch free catch-ups. Channel 4’s 4oD has proven massively popular and the BBC’s recently launched iPlayer - set for a widespread rollout in the autumn - is set to follow in its footsteps with 400 hours of downloadable programming covering between 60 and 70 per cent of the BBC’s broadcasting. Consumers can also use ITV’s similar site, with Sky Anytime available too and Virgin Media’ sports catch-up site, launched in conjunction with Setanta Sports.

These platforms mostly download your chosen programming to a library on your computer and while you can’t copy the footage, if you download it with a laptop, you can catch up on your favourite shows while commuting to work or in a waiting room.

Are there any drawbacks to these services?

While download limits won’t be affected by services from BT Vision or Tiscali TV, “live” video streaming and TV over broadband to download will.

One of the big problems with the 4oD, iPlayer and Sky Anytime services is that they all use the same legal peer-to-peer software to upload and download data - software that can’t be switched off. Even when users think they have closed the application, it continues to run in the background, using up download limits and slowing your broadband connection.

If users are concerned about their usage but want to try these innovative new services, they use our free Broadband Download Monitor and simply uninstall the broadcaster’s software if you feel it’s slowing you down.

Click here to read more about video-on-demand.

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