Lightbox - Telecoms new on demand TV service

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#1074039 25-Jun-2014 11:00

sdav: I know it's very early days but I'm not sure these companies get it.

I don't watch TV on my computer, phone or ipad. I watch TV shows on TV. I like Netflix because I can hook it up to my TV and that's exactly what I do. Look at the devices that Hulu, Netflix etc support. Look at the services Apple TV, Roku etc support. Hope I'm wrong and that support for consoles, network bluray players, Apple TV, Roku etc is coming...

/rant

surely it will be viewable on Smart TV's, I fear though that Samsung will be granted exclusive rights as with a lot of these things

davidcole

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#1074042 25-Jun-2014 11:04

KiwiNZ:
sdav: I know it's very early days but I'm not sure these companies get it.

I don't watch TV on my computer, phone or ipad. I watch TV shows on TV. I like Netflix because I can hook it up to my TV and that's exactly what I do. Look at the devices that Hulu, Netflix etc support. Look at the services Apple TV, Roku etc support. Hope I'm wrong and that support for consoles, network bluray players, Apple TV, Roku etc is coming...

/rant

surely it will be viewable on Smart TV's, I fear though that Samsung will be granted exclusive rights as with a lot of these things

"Granted rights" - they're granted rights cos they pay for the app development (in the case of TVNZ)

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timbosan

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#1074044 25-Jun-2014 11:06

I just registered and it tells me:

"That email address has already been registered"

Has anyone got this? I used to be a Telecom customer, now BigPipe, so is there some sort of auto-signup?

BlueShift

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#1074046 25-Jun-2014 11:09

Any speculators interested in a number plate?
http://www.plates.co.nz/search/?legend=LiTEBX

NonprayingMantis

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#1074049 25-Jun-2014 11:13

sdav: I know it's very early days but I'm not sure these companies get it.

I don't watch TV on my computer, phone or ipad. I watch TV shows on TV. I like Netflix because I can hook it up to my TV and that's exactly what I do. Look at the devices that Hulu, Netflix etc support. Look at the services Apple TV, Roku etc support. Hope I'm wrong and that support for consoles, network bluray players, Apple TV, Roku etc is coming...

/rant

the fact that no streaming video business has ever launched with a full range of smart TV and other apps from day 1 suggests that doing that sort of thing is probably really really difficult.
They all started only on PC, then quickly (or in some cases not so quickly) expanded into other devices. (and yes, Netflix was the same)

Whilst Sky has every reason not to put their service on too many devices (goodbye multiroom revenue!) Lightbox has no such incentive, so I'm sure they are keen to get to as many devices as possible as quickly as possible

Wouldn't be surprised if the main barrier is the studios putting various requirements on the streaming services that makes each app a massive PITA.

Would be good if Lightbox could give a better idea of the plans for other devices though with some rough timelines - would certainly help us as potential customers have some confidence they are being worked on as well as know what things we should be looking at when deciding on things like Apple Tv vs Roku, PS4 vs XBone, Samsung Blu-ray vs Sony etc etc

As for me, I have HDMi cable form my laptop, as well as ipad with Airplay, so it's not a massive barrier right now, a PS3 or PS4 app would be very handy though!

NonprayingMantis

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#1074051 25-Jun-2014 11:16

timbosan: I just registered and it tells me:

"That email address has already been registered"

Has anyone got this? I used to be a Telecom customer, now BigPipe, so is there some sort of auto-signup?

did you register for 'ShowmeTV' when it was announced?

robjg63

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#1074052 25-Jun-2014 11:17

While I agree with most of what others have said about how they will need smart TV apps, android apps and maybe a dedicated 'dongle' or STB, I think you have to accept they need to start somewhere.

Launching a service like this is a pretty big undertaking - even sourcing rights to content is no small thing.
Its bound to have a few wrinkles in the early stages - so I suspect they just need to start it simple initially - and make sure it works well.
That looks like what they are trying to do.
Likewise - there is some local market competition heat at the moment. So they will have great pressure to 'get to market'.

So as a 'day one' offering - this sounds ok to me.
Likewise a fixed monthly price (ala Netflix) sounds initially sensible - the billing logistics of pay per view could be huge.

But I do agree that they will want to be working on smart TV apps, Android Apps, and probably a standalone STB device fairly quickly.

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trig42

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#1074064 25-Jun-2014 11:32

Apple TV seems the obvious one to design an app for, along with SmartTV (if only all SmartTVs could take the same Apps???).

A customized ROKU is a great idea too.

I would not sign up for this if I (or, more accurately, my wife) could not easily get it onto the big screen (and that is assuming the quality is good enough for the big screen). Easily means using the remote, and not plugging stuff in to the TV everytime she wants to watch something.

davidcole

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#1074084 25-Jun-2014 11:38

Equally, I get why they use computers first...it's the simplest to get stuff on...so what about adding keyboard commands, and allowing for a 10 foot interface? Why must PC = 2 foot interface? Make it selectable - it's just styesheets - if they can generate an interface for a computer and one for a smart phone - how hard would it be to make an interface for a computer readable from 10 feet (3+ m)

dclegg

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#1074086 25-Jun-2014 11:41

trig42: Apple TV seems the obvious one to design an app for, along with SmartTV (if only all SmartTVs could take the same Apps???).

A customized ROKU is a great idea too.

I would not sign up for this if I (or, more accurately, my wife) could not easily get it onto the big screen (and that is assuming the quality is good enough for the big screen). Easily means using the remote, and not plugging stuff in to the TV everytime she wants to watch something.

I'd concentrate on Apple TV and Roku, and have apps for all major Smart TV vendors as a secondary target. Make it easy for as many people as possible to get the content to their existing TVs.

I'd also love to see "Sign up for a n month contract and get a free/subsidised Apple TV/Roku/Some other cheap & cheerful STB!" type deals. I'd initially suggest Apple TV due to the strong brand recognition in the non-tech community.

DaveB

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#1074120 25-Jun-2014 12:06

dclegg:
I'd concentrate on Apple TV and Roku, and have apps for all major Smart TV vendors as a secondary target.

I would concentrate on content. Content (and a lot of us know and already access it) is the major consideration that will either make or break it. Everything else is secondary or maybe even irrelevant if the first consideration is not given the importance it requires.

myfullflavour

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#1074123 25-Jun-2014 12:08

sdav: I know it's very early days but I'm not sure these companies get it.

I don't watch TV on my computer, phone or . I watch TV shows on TV. I like Netflix because I can hook it up to my TV and that's exactly what I do. Look at the devices that Hulu, Netflix etc support. Look at the services , etc support. Hope I'm wrong and that support for consoles, network bluray players, Apple TV, Roku etc is coming...

/rant

This.

We're operating a plug and play service for our residential customers - sign up, take home a Roku Streaming Stick, plug it in, sign up to your preferred subscription, away you go.

old3eyes

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#1074159 25-Jun-2014 12:36

trig42: Apple TV seems the obvious one to design an app for, along with SmartTV (if only all SmartTVs could take the same Apps???).

A customized ROKU is a great idea too.

I would not sign up for this if I (or, more accurately, my wife) could not easily get it onto the big screen (and that is assuming the quality is good enough for the big screen). Easily means using the remote, and not plugging stuff in to the TV everytime she wants to watch something.

How about an Android app with Chromecast ability..

Regards,

Old3eyes

trig42

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#1074161 25-Jun-2014 12:38

That too, but seeing as Chromecast is not available (officially, yet) in NZ, I can't see it being high on their list. Certainly an Android App is a must though, so casting from that should be thought about when they build it.

davidcole

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#1074183 25-Jun-2014 12:42

Yeah i personally see chromecast and the most likely recipient of most of these services....given it's easier to get apps on there compared to native apple tv apps. It's a similar model to the roku (ie channels/apps etc) but it's more likely to be sold here and I get the impression easier to develop for as most places already have apps that the casting ability can be built into.

I could be wrong but I don't know anyone that uses airplay exclusively for pushing all their content to a tv.

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