How best to get iplayer on TV?

[getyourshoesonNOW]

We are buying a new TV and really want catch up TV. But I am utterly confused about how to get it.

Should we get a smart TV?

Coincidentally, we are going to change our broadband package as it's expensive - is a better option to buy a "normal" TV and then get a broadband package that includes TV?

Or should we get a bog standard TV and buy a You View box? If we do that, do we need a TV package with broadband too?

Please advise oh wise mumsnetters - I am utterly befuddled!

Watching with interest, we are in same position.
Dh is researching...

I have a Smart TV. It connects to our internet with a standard ethernet cable into the back of the TV, and you can access iPlayer through the menu or home screen. It's also got an internet browser and all the other catch-up channels (ITV, Five, etc) along with LoveFilm/NetFlix apps.

I don't know what you mean about a broadband package that includes TV. If you mean like Sky or Virgin, where you pay for internet and TV from the same provider, they'd provide a Sky/Virgin box that will let you watch satellite TV and possibly record programs. They don't allow access to iPlayer.

A You View box might be the same. I don't remember reading that they have iPlayer on, just that you can watch free satellite channels and record them onto the box. You'll get less channels than a Sky/Virgin subscription but you don't pay a subscription. You do however pay more up front.

Is that what you meant? I hope this helps!

You can get iplayer on a Wii console, Samsung blu ray players and you can also hook your tv to your pc and play it that way.

Thanks all - skatebauble, please let me know what your husband thinks!

Caja, I meant something like a BT or Virgin package boradband/ TV package - I thought that included catch-up TV but clearly am wrong!

Sky does now give access to iPlayer etc through its On Demand service.

We have Samsung smart tv with iplayer etc

Also have sky plus with catch up via Internet connection but it really only gives highlights not the full service

So it may be worth while to see what the service offers before signing up

We watch iplayer through the tv not sky as it gives the full service

I got a cheap Smart TV, well it was meant to be a Smart TV but the software was not installed correctly at the factory so it has never updated the software so does not work (don't buy the cheap Hitachi). However the TV screen part is great, gives a good contrast, so I have the screen connected to a YouView box (which is connected to Plusnet Extra Fibre broadband connection via Ethernet cable) and to a laptop using VGA input.

YouView will play iPlayer, ITV Player, 4OD, Demand5 and has other things being added to it from time to time - Sky NOW TV for example (movie streaming). YouView needs an Ethernet connection to broadband (so a cable going to your broadband router, it does not connect via WiFi) plus an aerial connection (so only works in areas where you can receive FreeView).

The laptop I used for players that are not yet on YouView, such as BlinkBox and NetFlix. Before getting YouView I used the laptop for iPlayer, 4OD, Demand5 etc.

My broadband package (Plusnet Extra Fibre) does not specifically include TV. It is simply the BT Infinity2 product, so fast broadband and gives me a big data allowance (250GB a month). I currently average 66GB a month usage, so not getting anywhere near my monthly limit yet but I am a single person and not at home all day every day, so my usage may not be representative of what a family would use.

We have you view and it includes access to iplayer etc from the main menu/programme guide, you just scroll back instead of forward. We have BT vision if that helps.

Does anyone's Internet struggle with it? If my ds is watching something on the iPad and me or my oh is on the net it slows the iPad. We've reasonable Internet access

virginmedia also has catchup tv included too.

we've recently got talktalk tv
tbh I would not recommend unless you have super fast broadband connection
talktalk allegedly boosted ours prior to setting us up but it really isn't fast enough
sky channels buffer constantly most of the time making it impossible to watch
the iplayer is ok but also prone to buffering..

Virgin TiVo cable provides iPlayer, 4OD and channels 3 and 5 catch up. Also has YouTube. I have tablet and laptop so not sure I need smart TV too, but find Virgin's package to be really good and the catch up option excellent (better than Sky).

Get your shoes
I have the virgin tivo package it comes with apps built in like iplayer, itv player & 4od & YouTube. They told me it would have lovefilm but it doesn't & when I rung they said virgin had their own which is quite rubbish tbh. I have a half price deal at the mo but will cut down my channels when this ends.

I've used LoveFilm and iPlayer on a PS3. I don't have a 'smart TV' but a variety of TVs (32", 40", 42") and use them with a combination of hardware from Freeview and FreeSat recorders to Android (30 quid unit running Android v4 plugs into HDMI port), and the "iCan Easy" (Freeview HD receiver with iPlayer), and Sky+ box.

I also have a couple of the *> Acer nettop boxes Speedtest.net

Yes, good point about YouView. Recordings can not be done manually and there is no padding before/after programmes so when recording very short things there can be things missed. The system seems to rely on the broadcasters sending the correct time signal or something. There is some discussion about it on the YouView support forum at YouView.com

amicissimma - have not seen anything for saving shows from non-BBC services, sorry. Probably worth asking that as a separate question as someone else might have found some service/ software.

Which ISP do you use? There are a number of ISPs doing 'unlimited' but some aren't (they hide a limit in their FUP - Fair Usage Policy - but some have an unwritten limit). Have generally managed to stay within my limit (60 GB during peak hours of 0800-midnight) but download 150+ GB a month using PlusNet (as they don't count overnight - and they have just started offering unlimited, with no limits at all, for 9.99/month)

Have just noticed that recording on Sky+ box from Five or ITV cuts out all adverts. So Royal Variety 2012 was 2hrs 10 (I assume I am 'missing' 50 minutes of adverts, at least!).

True, big difference from VCR when you could record whenever, and pause while doing so (to avoid adverts etc).

I've got a Samsung smart TV and Virgin cable broadband. Is blistering, can watch iPlayer, netflix, youtube, facebook, google, skype whatever on the TV. Virgin TV has full catch up, Sky+ recording type thing etc etc. Doesn't come cheap of course - though I get phone/tv/120MB broadband all through Virgin so don't pay anyone else for line rental etc. Definitely best current solution in the UK imo if you are in a Virgin cable area and are prepared to fork out for Virgin (similar to Sky levels))