Now (streaming service)

Last updated

Now
Other namesNow TV (2012–2021)
Original author(s) Sky Group
Developer(s) Comcast (Sky Group & Xfinity)
Initial release17 July 2012;12 years ago (2012-07-17)
Available in
Website

Now (formerly Now TV and often stylised as NOW) is a subscription over-the-top streaming television service launched in the United Kingdom in 2012. It is operated by Sky Group in Europe, and Xfinity in the US; both owned by the American media conglomerate Comcast.

Contents

Now offers both live streaming and video-on-demand without a contract. The service offers "passes" for various types of content, for a monthly fee on a pay-as-you-go basis. Differing passes offer films, sports and entertainment from Sky such as material from Sky Atlantic and Sky Cinema, and from British and American licensed third-parties such as Fox. [1] The service is available to consumers through retail Roku-based Now TV digital media players (in both set-top box and HDMI dongle form factors) as well as via an app on computers, various mobile devices, some game consoles and set-top boxes. It is separate from and not viewable through the Sky Go Internet service, or via Sky's digital satellite television service Sky Q.

History and coverage

Sky Picnic

Sky Picnic was a proposed pay television service which would have sat alongside Freeview and Top Up TV on the digital terrestrial television (DTT) platform in the United Kingdom. [2] The proposal detailed replacing Sky's three free-to-air channels (Sky News, Sky Sports News and Sky Three) with five pay TV channels: Sky Sports 1, Sky Movies SD1 plus Sky One during the evening with one hour of Sky News content. There would also be two further daytime channels: a factual channel and a children's channel. [3] It was first proposed in 2007 but was subject to a public consultation by Ofcom. [4] Whilst the service was cleared to launch in 2010 [5] it never officially launched, Sky having put it on hold in 2008. [6]

The Sky Picnic proposal was ultimately superseded by the internet-based Now TV platform.

Now TV

Former Sky Ticket logo in Germany Sky Ticket Logo (2021).svg
Former Sky Ticket logo in Germany
Logo of WOW (Germany) WOW Logo 2022.svg
Logo of WOW (Germany)
Logo of Sky X (Austria) Sky-x-logo.png
Logo of Sky X (Austria)

Now TV was unveiled by Sky UK in March 2012, and designed for people who have no existing pay TV subscription. [7] [8] Its official launch was on 17 July 2012, [9] initially providing films, putting it in competition with Lovefilm and Netflix. [10] [11]

The Now TV service was later extended to other territories covered by the Sky Group. In 2014 a similar internet service called "Sky Online" was launched by Sky Deutschland in Germany and Austria, [12] and by Sky Italia in Italy in 2015. In 2016, Sky Online in Germany and Austria was revamped as "Sky Ticket" and structured the same as Now TV in the UK, [13] and was rebranded in Italy under the original British name of Now TV. On 26 April 2017, Now TV launched in Ireland. [14] On 11 September 2017, the service launched as simply "Sky" in Spain, the first Sky-branded product in that country. [15] In March 2019, Sky X launched in Austria, making use of a blend of Now TV and Sky Q elements, and replaced Sky Ticket, as an offering between Sky Ticket and the full TV service Sky Q. [11] [16] On 1 September 2020, Sky stopped offering the product in Spain. [17]

In Summer 2016, Sky UK extended the brand to telecommunication services by launching contract-free budget broadband internet in the UK, initially named Now TV Combo, [18] and from early 2018 branded as Now Broadband. [19]

In early 2021, Now TV rebranded as NOW. [20]

In Summer 2022, Sky Ticket rebranded to WOW. [21]

Spain

Sky España was a service of Sky and supplied over-the-top pay television and video on demand service accessible only through the Internet created to compete with Movistar+, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video in Spain. [22]

Yoigo is an operator of Internet and mobile services which maintains an exclusive agreement that allows customers to the rate into Fibra + la Sinfín with unlimited fibre access to Sky España service for €6 per month. [23]

The service ceased to be available on 1 September 2020. Some content had already disappeared prior to it closing on 10 August 2020. [24]

Sky returned to the Spanish market in 2023 with the introduction of SkyShowtime.

United States

On 23 May 2023, Comcast (parent company of Sky Group) announced plans to launch a U.S. version of Now TV as part of its Xfinity cable and broadband unit, which will be priced at US$25 per-month and include linear cable networks and free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) services from Xumo Play and other partners. [25]

Content and channels

Upon its UK debut in 2012, Now TV offered only films at first, adding sports in March 2013, [26] and entertainment channels in October 2013. [27] [28] Film and entertainment channels are accessed by paying a monthly fee, and sports on an ad-hoc basis ("pay as you go"). Unlike Sky's flagship satellite TV service, Now TV does not require a long-term contract. [1]

Now TV offers "passes" with a specific set of content or channels that can be watched on demand or as live TV. The "Entertainment" pass has general entertainment content/channels from Sky itself (e.g. Sky Atlantic) and third-parties (e.g. Comedy Central), whilst the "Kids" pass covers children's networks such as Nickelodeon, and a "Sky Cinema" pass offers over a thousand films from Sky Cinema. There is also a dedicated "Hayu" pass, and a "Sports" pass (which offers a daily or monthly option), along with a sports pass solely for mobile devices [29] to stream live Sky Sports channels. [30]

The Now TV boxes and dongles have extra downloadable apps that provide access to free catch-up or streaming services such as BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and UKTV Play, as well as access to Sky Store, Netflix (added in late 2018), Peacock (added in November 2021), Sky Sports Box Office, Disney+ (added in April 2020) [31] and YouTube. [32] From Spring 2020, Now TV provided access to BT Sport, and at the same time Now TV became available for BT TV customers. [33]

On 28 June 2022, National Geographic departed the service as its programming moved over to Disney+. [34] In its place, Now users had access to UKTV's mystery drama channel Alibi and NBC News Now, [35] whilst customers with the Sky Cinema subscription package could access a range of films from Paramount+. [36]

List of channels on Now

Entertainment

Films

Kids

Sport

Devices

Now is available on a number of platforms, providing access via both big-screen and small screen mobile devices (correct as of April 2020): [37]

The service offers streams at up to 720p resolution (or up to 1080p resolution, when subscribed to Now TV HD Boost at an extra cost) depending on the playback device. It uses adaptive bitrate streaming. [38]

Now TV hardware

In July 2013, Sky launched a white Now TV-branded Roku streaming box, allowing users to stream Now TV content to their television via an analogue baseband connection or an HDMI input. It retailed for £9.99. [39] It has limited access to the Roku Channel Store and only a pre-approved list of channels can be downloaded. A number of third-party channels can be side-loaded to the device using its Developer Mode.

In August 2015, Sky launched the Now TV Box 2 (based around a 2015 Roku 2) in black. It offers the same content as the original Now TV (white) box, but has a faster processor, an Ethernet port alongside Wi-Fi, a USB port and an SD card slot (not functional by default), and is capable of outputting at full HD (1080p) resolution. [40] Unlike the original Now TV Box, the Now TV Box 2 does not have an analogue audio/video output socket.

The Now TV Smart Box ("Smart Box with Freeview"), coloured black with a blue logo, was launched exclusively in the UK in July 2016. It includes access to Freeview channels through an aerial, via an internal DTT tuner that allows the user to pause (for up to 30 minutes) and rewind live TV. [41]

In January 2018, Sky introduced the Now TV Smart Stick dongle which plugs directly into a TV's HDMI input and includes voice search. [42] It was noted as the cheapest smart TV stick in the UK, costing £14.99 at launch compared to £39.99 for its rival Amazon Fire TV Stick. [43] [44]

The second generation Now TV Smart Box ("Smart Box with 4K") was introduced in September 2018 and is coloured black with a pink logo. It is smaller in size (mainly due to the removal of the Freeview TV tuner) and includes the voice search capability from the Smart Stick. This box is capable of streaming at 2160p (4K) resolution. [45]

NOW TV recently re-branded to NOW has announced late in 2021 that it is discontinuing all NOW hardware products. [46]

Hardware specifications
Now TV "White" BoxNow TV "Black" BoxNow TV Smart Box (1st Generation)Now TV Smart Stick [47] [48] Now TV Smart Box (2nd Generation) [49]
Release DateJuly 2013August 2015July 2016February 2018September 2018
End of SupportOctober 2020N/AN/AN/AN/A
UK Model Numbers2400SK4200SK; 4201UK4500SK38014631UK
Ireland Model Numbers4201IE3801
Italy Model Numbers3003383801
Remote control Infrared with 13 buttons. Infrared with 13 buttons. Infrared with 13 buttons.

Wi-Fi Direct (point-anywhere) using 17 buttons.

Infrared for television power and volume control using 3 buttons.

Voice Search microphone.

Wi-Fi Single-band 802.11 (b/g/n compatible) with WEP, WPA and WPA2 support.Dual-band 802.11 (a/b/g/n compatible) with WEP, WPA and WPA2 support.Dual-band 802.11 (a/b/g/n/ac compatible) with WEP, WPA, WPA2 support, and Hotel Connect.
Ethernet ports 1x 100BASE-TX 1x 1000BASE
USB USB Type A socket, not functional. Micro USB Type B socket as power input only.
Secure Digital microSD, not functional microSD, not functional
Terrestrial TV tuner Freeview and Freeview HD
Pause and Rewind live TV Freeview and Freeview HD (up to 30 minutes).Now TV pass live television channels (up to 30 minutes).
Video Outputs(all via HDMI)
Audio outputsDigital over HDMI: 7.1 and 5.1 surround sound pass-through.
Central Processing Unit Single-core Dual-core Quad-core
Dimensions3.31 in × 3.31 in × 0.91 in (84 mm × 84 mm × 23 mm)3.50 in × 3.50 in × 0.98 in (89 mm × 89 mm × 25 mm)6.50 in × 6.50 in × 0.81 in (165 mm × 165 mm × 20.5 mm)3.31 in × 0.80 in × 0.50 in (84 mm × 20.3 mm × 12.6 mm)4.92 in × 4.92 in × 0.83 in (125 mm × 125 mm × 21 mm)
Weight3.00 oz (85 g)4.97 oz (141 g)15.24 oz (432 g)0.71 oz (20 g)7.83 oz (222 g)
Power Input5.2 Volt – 1.0 Amps via supplied AC power adaptor.5.99 Volt – 2 Amps via supplied AC power adaptor.12 Volt – 2 Amps via supplied AC power adaptor.5 Volt – 1.0 Amps via USB port/supplied AC power adaptor.5.99 Volt – 2 Amps via supplied AC power adaptor.
Power Consumption Typical when streaming video: less than 2 Watts.Typical when streaming video: less than 3.5 Watts.
  • Typical when active: less than 14.2 Watts.
  • Typical when in active standby: less than 9.5 Watts.
  • Typical when in passive standby: less than 0.6 Watts.
Typical when streaming high definition content: less than 3.5 Watts.Typical when streaming ultra high definition content: less than 9 Watts.

Reception

As of Q4 2018, Now TV had a 10% share in the UK OTT subscription market, placing it third behind Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. [50]

Trademark disputes

Before its launch, Hong Kong–based PCCW filed trademark complaints about British Sky Broadcasting's (BSkyB) Now TV service. In October 2012, a High Court judgment in London ruled that BSkyB did not infringe PCCW's rights regarding the Now TV name. [51]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sky UK</span> British telecommunications company

Sky UK Limited, trading as Sky, is a British broadcaster and telecommunications company that provides television, internet, fixed line and mobile telephone services to consumers and businesses in the United Kingdom. It is a subsidiary of Sky Group and, from 2018 onwards, part of Comcast. It is the UK's largest pay-TV broadcaster, with 12.7 million customers as of the end of 2019 for its digital satellite TV platform. Sky's flagship products are Sky Q and the internet-based Sky Glass, and its flagship channels are Sky Showcase, Sky Max, and Sky Atlantic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Top Up TV</span> Former UK pay TV service

Top Up TV was a pay TV service in the United Kingdom that was launched in March 2004, operating on the digital terrestrial television platform. The service aimed to "top up" Freeview customers by providing additional content and services through encrypted TV channels unavailable to other viewers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sky Italia</span> Italian satellite pay-television platform

Sky Italia S.r.l. is an Italian satellite television platform owned by the American media conglomerate Comcast. Sky Italia also broadcasts three national free-to-air television channels: TV8, Cielo, and Sky TG24.

Freesat is a British free-to-air satellite television service, first formed as a joint venture between the BBC and ITV plc and now owned by Everyone TV. The service was formed as a memorandum in 2007 and has been marketed since 6 May 2008. Freesat offers a satellite alternative to the Freeview service on digital terrestrial television, with a broadly similar selection of channels available without subscription for users purchasing a receiver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virgin Media</span> British television and telecommunications company

Virgin Media Limited/Virgin Media O2 Limited is a telecommunications company from Britain, founded in 2007, which provides telephone, television and internet services in the United Kingdom. Its headquarters are at Green Park in Reading, England. It is owned by Virgin Media O2, a 50:50 joint venture between Liberty Global and Telefónica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sky Deutschland</span> German media company

Sky Deutschland GmbH, branded as Sky, is a German media company that operates a direct broadcast satellite Pay TV platform in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It provides a collection of basic and premium digital subscription television channels of different categories via satellite and cable television.

EE TV is a subscription IPTV service offered by EE; a brand of British telecommunications company BT Group. It requires the signing up to and use of the EE Broadband internet and phone service, with connection via EE's official router, the EE Smart Hub.

Amazon Prime Video, or simply Prime Video, is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming and rental service of Amazon offered both as a stand-alone service and as part of Amazon's Prime subscription. The service primarily distributes films and television series produced or co-produced by Amazon MGM Studios or licensed to Amazon, as Amazon Originals, with the service also hosting content from other providers, content add-ons, live sporting events, and video rental and purchasing services.

Sky Broadband is the consumer internet service offered by Sky UK in the United Kingdom.

TalkTalk TV is a UK-based consumer television and video on demand service, operated by the TalkTalk Group. It originally launched in 2000. In September 2012, the current TalkTalk TV was launched in partnership with YouView. Its television and video on demand service is delivered over a BT phone line, using ADSL or VDSL. It provides IPTV, video on demand, telephony and broadband internet access.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virgin TV</span> Digital pay cable television service in the United Kingdom

Virgin TV is a digital pay cable television service in the United Kingdom, owned by Liberty Global (50%) and Telefónica (50%) after the merger its UK businesses to form Virgin Media O2. Its origins date from NTL and Telewest, formerly two of the UK's largest cable operators, which merged on 6 March 2006. All NTL:Telewest services were rebranded as Virgin Media in February 2007. Since the acquisition of Smallworld Cable in 2014, Virgin is the sole national cable TV provider in Great Britain. Currently about 51% of UK households have access to Virgin's network, which is independent from BT's Openreach network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">On Demand (Sky)</span> Video on demand services from Sky UK

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sky Ireland</span> Irish telecommunications company

Sky Ireland Limited is a subsidiary of Comcast-owned Sky UK and supplies television, internet and telephony services in Ireland.

YouView TV Ltd is a British media company, a partnership of four broadcasters: the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5; and two telecommunications operators, BT Group and TalkTalk Group. It launched in 2012 the hybrid television platform named YouView, which was formed from an ambitious project between the UK's four terrestrial broadcasters originally titled Project Canvas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HD+</span> German television service

HD+ is a premium high-definition (HD) satellite and streamed TV service for German users, owned by HD PLUS GmbH, a subsidiary of SES based in Unterföhring near Munich, Germany.

Controversy over Sky's operation of pay TV services on Freeview began in 2006. It was claimed at various times that Sky was operating in an anti-competitive way in the British pay TV market. Similar concerns arose about Sky's procurement, distribution and charging levels of films on its Sky Movies service. Sky was exonerated by the Competition Commission in August 2012. Sky was found to have overcharged for its Sky Sports channels, and was ordered in 2010 to reduce its charges for these channels. Its terms for supplying the sports channels to other companies were also challenged in 2010–11; some of the complaints were upheld by the regulatory authorities, others were not. Another challenge, in 2009, concerned Sky's charges for listing free-to-air channels on its electronic program guide (EPG).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roku</span> Brand of streaming media players

Roku is a brand of consumer electronics that includes streaming players, smart TVs, as well as a free TV streaming service. The brand is owned by Roku, Inc., an American company. As of 2024, Roku is the leading streaming TV distributor in the U.S., reaching nearly 120 million people.

This is a timeline of the history of Sky Television.

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