Vodafone TV retirement plan: September 2022

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#2836149 20-Dec-2021 22:33

@mclean:
scuwp: I also don't get the popularity with this function. So much is available on demand now, why do you need to record anything anymore? Being a TiVO fan, it took a while to move on, but I could never imagine going back to recording content again.

So I can watch (say) the evening news on demand, an hour later, without the adds?

Not sure if this question was rhetorical, but the answer is 'nope'. Don't know about TVNZ, but Newshub don't put the 6pm news onto their demand platform until it has played on Three+1. 8pm is a bit late to be watching the 6pm news! :-(

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BlakJak

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#2836152 20-Dec-2021 23:20

At some point mid next year i'm going to be looking for a solution that'll let an elderly relative watch content on her (non-smart) TV. A nice STB that can get access to FTA, Youtube and Netflix and is controlled through a single interface is what I wanted, and VTV suited her nicely.

The next move is likely to be a Chromecast and a collection of smartphone apps, and showing her how to drive each one with it's subtly different look-and-feel. Which which will work fine for TVNZ on demand, Three Now, Netflix and Youtube. I guess the rest of FTA will force me to go back to getting her broadcast freeview box working.

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Apsattv

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#2836161 21-Dec-2021 01:44

I think most people saw the VTV stb as a way to get Freeview streamed in full HD over the net. In most cases it was cheaper than getting an actual Freeview antenna installed. No money is going to be invested in future Terrestrial Freeview broadcast sites and despite them talking about it for YEARS Freeview has still yet to go HD on satellite so is it any wonder that most of the takeup of the VTV stb was for Freeview?

I will take the VTV STB streams any day over the ugly SD Freeview satellite version.

eracode

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#2836164 21-Dec-2021 05:26

Apsattv:

I will take the VTV STB streams any day over the ugly SD Freeview satellite version.

Yet you think it was overpriced?

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Stu

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#2836214 21-Dec-2021 09:05

It would be interesting to know what the annual cost to Vodafone, per device, worked out to be for purely Freeview viewers. We'd be happy to pay a nominal monthly/annual fee for the quality of the streams, and the versatility of the STB in general. Of course, the actual cost to Vodafone may have been considerably more than "nominal".

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alasta

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#2836228 21-Dec-2021 10:00

BlakJak: At some point mid next year i'm going to be looking for a solution that'll let an elderly relative watch content on her (non-smart) TV. A nice STB that can get access to FTA, Youtube and Netflix and is controlled through a single interface is what I wanted, and VTV suited her nicely.

In general I think the best solutions are:

Limited technical ability : Freeview UHF. Satellite if UHF unavailable.
Moderate technical ability : Apple TV with ThreeNow app for linear viewing. ThreeNow is currently terrible quality but Discovery will probably fix that next year. Augment with Freeview UHF/Satellite if other linear free-to-air channels are required.
Advanced technical ability : Beyond my expertise but others have suggested solutions elsewhere in this thread.

BlakJak

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#2836268 21-Dec-2021 11:22

alasta:

BlakJak: At some point mid next year i'm going to be looking for a solution that'll let an elderly relative watch content on her (non-smart) TV. A nice STB that can get access to FTA, Youtube and Netflix and is controlled through a single interface is what I wanted, and VTV suited her nicely.

In general I think the best solutions are:

Limited technical ability : Freeview UHF. Satellite if UHF unavailable.
Moderate technical ability : Apple TV with ThreeNow app for linear viewing. ThreeNow is currently terrible quality but Discovery will probably fix that next year. Augment with Freeview UHF/Satellite if other linear free-to-air channels are required.
Advanced technical ability : Beyond my expertise but others have suggested solutions elsewhere in this thread.

Freeview isn't going to provide Youtube and Netflix.

Not going near the Apple ecosystem.

... and we're done?

Party concerned has an Android smartphone so i'm thinking I just grab a Chromecast and show her how to drive it, and use Freeview for realtime/FTA.

What VTV did was give us a single-pane-of-glass that worked.

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DjShadow

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#2836269 21-Dec-2021 11:23

Stu: It would be interesting to know what the annual cost to Vodafone, per device, worked out to be for purely Freeview viewers. We'd be happy to pay a nominal monthly/annual fee for the quality of the streams, and the versatility of the STB in general. Of course, the actual cost to Vodafone may have been considerably more than "nominal".

I noted in a post further back that the freeview channels were streamed directly from source e.g TVNZ, TV3, etc so I'm guessing next to nothing as those channels would have to provide the bandwidth to make it work

Stu

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#2836373 21-Dec-2021 14:43

I'm sure there will be licencing costs involved. It all adds up

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Apsattv

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#2836436 21-Dec-2021 16:20

Vodafones streams of Freeview channels are delivered over Kaltura. Not the direct stream urls as provided via TVNZ "web streams"

example TVNZ "web streams"

TVNZ 1:
https://d2ce82tpc3p734.cloudfront.net/v1/master/b1f4432f8f95be9e629d97baabfed15b8cacd1f8/TVNZ_1/master.m3u8
TVNZ 2:
https://duoak7vltfob0.cloudfront.net/v1/master/b1f4432f8f95be9e629d97baabfed15b8cacd1f8/TVNZ_2/master.m3u8
TVNZ Duke:
https://dayqb844napyo.cloudfront.net/v1/master/b1f4432f8f95be9e629d97baabfed15b8cacd1f8/TVNZ_Duke/master.m3u8

The same web streams that the smartvu accesses in their app on their Freeview stb

Has vodafone considered testing using these streams as a source? they could test and map them onto Ch 601,602 etc?

I and many others wouid rather see the box dumbed down and become a basic linear tv tuner than see it go in the bin.

richms

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#2836502 21-Dec-2021 20:08

Not sure if the spelling is to avoid being found or they just are that bad at spelling.

Richard rich.ms

freitasm

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#2836505 21-Dec-2021 20:17

I'd say they are just trying to not get caught. Report the item.

My technology disclosure

ukoda

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#2836528 21-Dec-2021 21:16

freitasm:

I'd say they are just trying to not get caught. Report the item.

Report what? If, like me, they brought it at a retail store then why should the not be able to sell it?

quickymart

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#2836530 21-Dec-2021 21:21

Not very ethical selling something that you know will be basically useless in 12 months, is it?

ukoda

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#2836537 21-Dec-2021 21:41

quickymart:

Not very ethical selling something that you know will be basically useless in 12 months, is it?

No, I agree it is not really ethical, but they still sell ICE cars with a straight face. While I would feel sorry for anyone not in the know buying it at that price but that is hardly reason to trying to have the listing pulled, there are plenty of other rip off items on Trade Me they won't act on. The main issue I see with that listing is the price, I would have suggested $20 to $50 would be more reasonable.

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