Virgin media has released an app for iPhone
and iPad owners who use its TiVo set-top box. The app controls the TiVo
remotely over a wifi network to schedule and delete recordings and allows the
device to be used as a gesture-based remote control.
A limited number of TV channels can also be
streamed live to the iOS screen. Currently, this is limited to a maximum of 40
TV and five radio channels, dependent on the user’s cable TV package. For
example, 11 Sky Movies and five Sky Sports channels are
available only to users who pay for them as part of their Virgin Media
subscription.
Virgin
media has released an app for iPhone and iPad owners who use its TiVo set-top
box.
Virgin is also offering a web-based service
with similar features to customers via Mac and PC. On-demand content and live
streaming can be accessed through a browser. Again, content is limited and some
of it only available to premium subscribers. Virgin Media customers with
non-TiVo boxes can also access this service, however.
Despite its ‘TV Anywhere’ monicker, the iOS
app can only be used to watch TV when you’re connected to the same wifi network
as your Virgin TiVo box, which itself will need a separate Ethernet connection
to your router. You can’t watch programmes over a mobile data connection, but
you can browse listings and set up recordings. All your devices, whether Mac,
PC or iOS, must be registered with Virgin Media before
they can view programmes via TV Anywhere, and you can only register two devices
at once, with only one change allowed per month. No explanation is given for
this restriction.
Despite
its ‘TV Anywhere’ monicker, the iOS app can only be used to watch TV when
you’re connected to the same wifi network as your Virgin TiVo box
TV anywhere has been likened to the Sky Go
service, but the latter, while free to Sky subscribers, is also available for a
monthly fee to everyone else. In addition, Sky Go allows streaming over a
mobile data connection. The other limitations of TV Anywhere also apply to Sky
Go, however. It offers a few more channels for live streaming, such as BBC
News, CBBC and Sky Atlantic (a channel that remains exclusive to Sky and isn’t
licensed to Virgin or any other platform). TV Anywhere, on the other hand, has
Five and its various offshoots. Neither service offers access to content from
Channel 4 or ITV channels. Sky Go doesn’t allow you to remotely
operate a Sky+ box, but Sky has a separate app for that.
Virgin TV Anywhere and Sky Go are two among
a growing number of apps and websites that allow Mac and iOS users to watch
live TV and on-demand content. The websites of the BBC, ITV, and Channel 4 all allow you to watch live TV, while all three plus Five have
their own on-demand programmes. All four networks have their own apps for the
iPad which allow you to watch live and on-demand content.
Virgin
TV Anywhere: strickly speaking, Virgin TV in your house, if you have Virgin
TiVo cable box, or a few channels on the web, if you’re a Virgin subscriber
BBC iPlayer and ITV Player are designed as
‘catch-up’ services, allowing you to see recent programmes you’ve missed. BBC
iPlayer also streams selected programmes live and allows you to download most
catch-up programmes to view later within 30 days. Channel 4’s 4OD combines a
catch-up service with on-demand archive content, which currently includes Brass
Eye, several series of Grand Designs, and Dennis Potter’s Karaoke.
For live TV, the independent TV CatchUp
app, despite its name, allows you to watch Freeview channels live on your iPad.
The only stipulation is that you must create an account and log in and you must
be in the UK. There’s no limit to the number of devices on which you can
install or use the service, but it does show advertising.
