We've got a decent ADSL with 80 GB cap and watch 90% of our TV and movies via the internet. Our household are not TV fanatics however, we watch a few hours a day I estimate. Sometimes two streams at once, never stops to buffer or skips a beat. Sometimes HD, occasionally medium quality if we're bingeing. Rearly going over our cap, often 10-15GB under the cap.
Hope this anecdotal evidence helps. It seems everyone is a bit different.
Thanks everyone for your responses. I now believe that I should have unlimited data and an upgrade to ADSL2 would be useful. (I can't get fibre).
Next issue for me is to psychologically break away from the concept of needing my own copy of what I am watching. Currently I use Sky Basic and I supplement this with downloads. MySky is a real plus and is the core of my personal programming and it will take a real effort to wean myself off it. Although having 50+ channels of Sky trash TV and ads isn't a great attraction.
Looking forward. To receive streaming TV it seems I need either a TV set that supports streaming from my chosen source, and I don't think mine will, OR a smart controller. I have a laptop and an iPad - I prefer the iPad. To use this I will need Apple TV. And then I have to figure out the process to change the TV source from SKY to streaming and back.
The other half has mastered iPad programming with Sky, still finds the TV remote control a challenge and I fear streaming control might just be too much. Makes me wonder if I should wait another year until the players sort themselves and the service becomes more of a utility better integrated with the TV set.
I'm thinking too that streaming (broadband upgrade to ADSL2 unlimited) buying Apple TV, subscribing to eg Netflix is just adding to the cost for uncertain benefits on top of Sky is all about cost. Freeview, Sky and downloading looks easy and safe.
Beecee: Looking forward. To receive streaming TV it seems I need either a TV set that supports streaming from my chosen source, and I don't think mine will, OR a smart controller. I have a laptop and an iPad - I prefer the iPad. To use this I will need Apple TV. And then I have to figure out the process to change the TV source from SKY to streaming and back.
I'd recommend the route of an Apple TV, given you've already got an iPad. What's the cost of an Apple TV these days s/h - about $100? Not much in the grand scheme of things, given you're happy to pay the monthly premium (in two senses of the word) for Sky.
My parents in their 80s use this set-up (Apple TV / iPad), primarily to use Netflix and BBC iPlayer; they too currently only have ADSL (though signed up to UFB this week, for some reason!). While it's taken them a bit of time to get used to the process, especially using Air Play, they manage to do it ok. (TBH, the biggest problem they have is when their IP address changes so Getflix stops working).
In terms of data caps - I totally disagree with the earlier poster that unlimited is necessary for VOD. My recommendation is why not see how it goes once you start using VOD? We initially coped with VOD within our 100GB cap (and this is on fibre so decent qual); we then coped ok within the 150GB we had when Snap gave us some extra data; only now have we elected to move to unlimited, and that was primarily done now because Snap's deal closed off last Sunday (we hover very much around the 150GB now).
And 40GB so last decade? Try being on my brother's plan (urban TC cable, so no limits enforced on them) - he has 5GB a month!
I've recently signed up to Unotelly and Netflix. I use an AppleTV, which I can use the iPad as a remote controller for (much easier than the little silver one that comes with the device). I am on a VDSL connection with speeds of between 20-30Mbps and I've had no lag or stutter issues at those speeds. I have a 150GB plan which I've only ever once come within 5GB of blowing. Given I used to download the shows and then watch them, and now I just stream them, I'm replacing one lot of usage for another, so I've not noticed a huge difference overall. I don't watch it every night though. If I did, I suspect I might want the 500GB or unlimited plans instead.
Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.
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