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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think that modern TVs with all the "apps" are not great?

31 replies

comoatoupeira · 03/02/2025 21:26

I just got a modern TV where you turn it on and it offers you all these different apps. It bothers me that iPlayer is just one app, when the BBC is so much better quality than most of the crap that is on there. I think it's a shame that while we are in the UK the TV doesn't put the UK channels front and centre. I worry that no one will watch the stuff that's usually really good, because now it's quite hard to find and buried in all this other stuff that is mostly from America.
Also I don't like how you do a search and it shows you lots of stuff you have to pay for, it's like asking you to make purchasing decisions and engage that part of your brain when you just wanted to switch on your TV which you already paid for to watch TV which you already paid a licence to have!
BTW I am not very old (34) so it's not because I'm 'out of touch'. I really think the decision choices aren't the right thing for the media options there are now.
Thanks! sorry bit of a ramble.

OP posts:
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Shoxfordian · 04/02/2025 08:46

We have all the apps, watch stuff on all of them
Get yourself an analogue tv op and the radio times so you can just watch bbc 🙄

CienAnosDeSoledad · 04/02/2025 08:11

British? No, thanks. Much prefer American tv, HBO is amazing, Apple tv has good stuff, paramount and the rest. British films/series/docs are dreary, second-rate garbage. Deleted the iplayer altogether.

TheyAreNotAngelsTheyDontCareAtAll · 04/02/2025 07:53

DanceToTheMusicInMyHead · 03/02/2025 22:01

I hate the TVs with "Rakuten" on them- always find them in holiday cottages. They always seem to default to Gordon Ramsay swearing at top volume, and I can't work out how to get the TV to work as I am too flustered trying to stop the kids hearing! I just end up watching iPlayer and prime all week as I can't find a normal channel.

I've seen it on tv in France. Yes, always a cooking prog, usually American, barbecuing on a grill the size of a bus, powered by gas rather than charcoal. For some bizarre reason, those 'random strangers' who watch sides of cows being cooked, seem to find it spectacularly wonderful!

BarbaraHoward · 04/02/2025 07:49

You can customise your home screen to show the apps you use, including live TV.

I love having all the apps so easily accessible. We use iPlayer, channel 4, Netflix, Amazon and Disney. All have brilliant programming, all have crap (which is sometimes what you want). It's very rare that we watch live TV these days, it's nice to fit it around our schedule.

Serpentstooth · 04/02/2025 07:34

You are free to ignore all the apps and only watch BBC. Do that.

merrymelodies · 04/02/2025 07:31

I think you can highlight which channels you prefer under favourites. At least on mine you can.

MelisandeLongfield · 04/02/2025 07:31

If you have an aerial plugged in, you should be able to go to 'antennae' or 'channel list' or 'TV guide' to take you to normal Freeview liveTV, which has the 5 'original' British channels numbered 1 - 5 and then HD versions starting from 101.

You should also be able to rearrange the apps so I-player and the apps for ITV, channels 4 and 5, and Freeview appear at the front of your list.

We don't have any paid subscriptions so I've moved all those apps to the back of the list.

pointythings · 04/02/2025 07:27

I am 57 and I love my smart TV. I have it set up.so only the apps I use are there, job done. It isn't rocket science.

SoScarletItWas · 04/02/2025 07:25

Ours has a ‘Live TV’ icon in the row of app icons (might even be the first or second one) which takes you straight to ‘normal telly’.

KrisAkabusi · 04/02/2025 07:25

You don't have to use the apps at all though. Press whatever button you need on the remote for free view and away you go. You never have to see an app again.

HotCrossBunplease · 04/02/2025 07:20

Ours has a Guide button that brings up a list of channels that are on now, with BBC 1 at the top.

Sherararara · 04/02/2025 07:16

Your point is entirely subjective. IMO British TV is crap and I’d much rather watch American and other shows on Netflix, Amazon, Disney & AppleTV. I open iPlayer maybe twice a year. I also find the smartTV easy to navigate but some are better than others. You may be a ‘young’ 30-something but the fact you only just got your first smartTV shows you are way behind the times.

Original poster
comoatoupeira · 04/02/2025 07:12

@ChorizoDog thanks I’ll have a look. Didn’t know this was possible.

OP posts:
Original poster
comoatoupeira · 04/02/2025 07:11

@ThoroughlyModernNotMillie thank you I will try this!

OP posts:
Original poster
comoatoupeira · 04/02/2025 07:10

Exactly. It tried to distract you to watch something else than what you intended to watch.

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SoapySponge · 03/02/2025 22:43

What annoys me is it takes longer to switch on and get to a channel than it did for my parents B&W TV to warm up back in the 60s.

ThoroughlyModernNotMillie · 03/02/2025 22:28

On mine I reordered the apps so that iPlayer was first, channel 4 next etc, I watch netflix but don't subscribe to anything else, I got rid of the other apps like ratuken etc. I also put live TV as the first choice.
I'm old however, still have a proper newspaper at the weekend and make a decision what to watch, I don't just put it on randomly.
I love smart TVs and catch-up services, I think they are a great invention because you can watch things when it's convenient for you and there are excellent programmes and films from years ago which I missed at the time.

ChorizoDog · 03/02/2025 22:14

Do you not have a live tv option and then you can use as a normal tv?

BatchCookBabe · 03/02/2025 22:04

Weird thing to get worked up about. YABU.

Original poster
comoatoupeira · 03/02/2025 22:03

InWalksBarberalla · 03/02/2025 22:00

Can't you just reorder the apps? Just because you don't want choice doesn't mean other people shouldn't get it.

I do want choice, I just don't want the choice to be pushy and biased in favour of TV services that are not the ones that we all contribute towards having in our country, and which creatives here, in our community, think very hard about how to make content for us that reflects living in Britain.
I don't want things to take up all the space and make you want to watch them (especially the kids) and that you then have to pay for, I don't want to go shopping, I want to watch TV.

OP posts:
MagentaRavioli · 03/02/2025 22:02

I hate ours. But it has Rakuten on it, whatever the f that is. Now I know to avoid it when I replace the TV

DanceToTheMusicInMyHead · 03/02/2025 22:01

I hate the TVs with "Rakuten" on them- always find them in holiday cottages. They always seem to default to Gordon Ramsay swearing at top volume, and I can't work out how to get the TV to work as I am too flustered trying to stop the kids hearing! I just end up watching iPlayer and prime all week as I can't find a normal channel.

Original poster
comoatoupeira · 03/02/2025 22:00

I meant 'jumbled together'

OP posts:
InWalksBarberalla · 03/02/2025 22:00

Can't you just reorder the apps? Just because you don't want choice doesn't mean other people shouldn't get it.

Florally · 03/02/2025 22:00

I like it. I love the remote that has a prime button, a Netflix button etc. Perfect for us