NOW CLOSED: YouView feedback thread: Non Testers: share the TV programme you'd love to rewind, watch again or pause for a chance to win a £100 JL voucher

[AnnMumsnet]

Hello

This is the feedback thread for the 20 testers who have received a new YouView TV box and who are currently trying it out in their homes.

YouView say "YouView is a subscription-free television service which seamlessly combines live and catch-up television. The service offers over 70 free to air channels and radio stations via a TV aerial and also connects to any broadband service to bring catch-up and on demand programmes directly to your TV. The TV service, which launched in July 2012, is backed by BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, BT, TalkTalk and Arqiva"

The YouView box allows you to record, pause and rewind TV, as well as featuring BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, 4oD and Demand 5.

Testers: we'll be asking you to add feedback twice - we'd like your first impressions now and in a couple of weeks we will add some more questions.

So, in terms of your first impressions. please....
~ give your overall impression when it arrived
~ describe the set up: did you set up your YouView box yourself? If not, who did? How easy did you / your DH/DP etc find it to set up your YouView box?
~ tell us which TV is it on/ in which room
~ share what you/ your family think the first couple of times you used it - what was the best feature and what, if anything, have you struggled with

If you're not a tester, YouView would love to hear from you - for a chance to win a £100 John Lewis voucher please share on this thread the programme(s) you'd love to pause, record or watch again - this could be a programme that's on now, or something special from the last few years or even something from your childhood - the programme which is really special to you and/or your family. Maybe you were on TV as a child and would like to see it again or you want to relive an Olympic moment or even maybe you're a massive Corrie fan and want to never miss an episode! Please share this on the thread and you'll be entered into the prize draw.


thanks
MNHQ

Please note: The final questions have now been added to the thread on Tues 2 April at 11:30

[LentilAsAnything]

Not a tester.
I'd like to watch all of 24 again, and will watch out for all the double-crossing!

[FannyPriceless]

Non tester here. Can I just say that this sounds like a really good idea! And I'm definitely to being paid to say this! Rather jealous of the testers now.

Anyway, it has to be Homeland. Can't miss a moment of that. If I sneeze I have to rewind to miss the 2 seconds I missed.

[AlexMumsnet]

Testers: thanks for continuing to try out the YouView box at home.

Below are the follow up and final questions for you.
Please add your feedback on the questions below for YouView.

~ How long did it take you to understand how to use YouView?
~ Has your child/children used YouView? How long did it take them to understand it and get used to it?
~ Which programmes have you most enjoyed watching on YouView so far?
~ Which of the following services have you most enjoyed so far? Live TV/ on-demand/7 day catch up
~ Who in your family has used your YouView box the most?
~ What have you found YouView most useful for so far? Catching up on

shows you've missed/ entertaining the kids/finding something to watch to pass time/ watching TV live/ listening to the radio/ search functionality, backwards 7 day programme guide, on demand players, record functionality

If you're not a tester, YouView would love to hear from you - for a chance to win a £100 John Lewis voucher please share on this thread the programme(s) you'd love to pause, record or watch again - this could be a programme that's on now, or something special from the last few years or even something from your childhood - the programme which is really special to you and/or your family. Maybe you were on TV as a child and would like to see it again or you want to relive an Olympic moment or even maybe you're a massive Corrie fan and want to never miss an episode! Please share this on the thread and you'll be entered into the prize draw. Thanks for all the comments so far...

thanks MNHQ

[ThePortlyPinUp]

1. It was very easy to learn to navigate the box and remote. We were confidently using it within the first evening.
   

1. All four of my children have used YouView and enjoyed watching programmes on demand, dd4 particularly enjoyed milkshake on demand. DD1 (11) and DD2 (8) were confidently using it within the day, DD3 and DD4 just instruct us in what they want to watch
   

3.I really enjoyed being able to watch Broadchurch which I had missed for the first week but I could watch it on demand and catch up. I also enjoyed a Call The Midwife marathon, and watching other programmes which had clashed with regular viewing so I could record and watch them later.

1. I think we have used the 7 day catch up service most of all.
   

1. I think it's a toss up between me and dp as to who has watched the box most, we've really enjoyed using it.
   

1. Catching up on things that I have missed which others have recommended has been the best plus point for me. For instance my friend asked if I had watched Broadchurch and said how good it was, I went home and found it on the 7 day catch up and could watch it instantly.

[ItsallisnowaFeegle]

~ How long did it take you to understand how to use YouView?

It was very simple to understand and we got to 'grips' with it as soon as we began using it.

~ Has your child/children used YouView? How long did it take them to understand it and get used to it?

My 15yr old does use Youview and was comfortable with the whole set up right away.

~ Which programmes have you most enjoyed watching on YouView so far?

We enjoyed the films on the Now TV free trial, as well as The Great British Menu, Masterchef and Storage Hunters.

~ Which of the following services have you most enjoyed so far? Live TV/ on-demand/7 day catch up

I like the catch up and on demand features.

~ Who in your family has used your YouView box the most?

Probably myself, as I'm currently on Mat Leave. But the whole family have enjoyed using Youview.


~ What have you found YouView most useful for so far? Catching up on

We used it to catch up on The Great British Menu and Masterchef

[BoysWillGrow]

How long did it take you to understand how to use YouView?
Within roughly 5mins you can confidently find your way around easily.

Has your child/children used YouView? How long did it take them to understand it and get used to it?
My 5 year old mastered it within the day, he loves all things computery so went through the menus easily.

Which programmes have you most enjoyed watching on YouView so far?
By far we've watched peppa pig the most, mostly on demand on Milkshake where we managed to make a playlist of about 11 episodes in a row- about an hours worth.

Which of the following services have you most enjoyed so far? Live TV/ on-demand/7 day catch up
Easily the on demand service and the pause feature. DP would say Now TV though, he's into films and he's now subscribed to that.

Who in your family has used your YouView box the most?
It would be a toss up between 2 year old DS with Milshake on demand or DP watching the films.

What have you found YouView most useful for so far? Catching up on shows you've missed/ entertaining the kids/finding something to watch to pass time/ watching TV live/ listening to the radio/ search functionality, backwards 7 day programme guide, on demand players, record functionality
I find the catching up on shows on demand most useful for during night feeds, I find a bit of 8 out of 10 cats on 4OD cheers me right up

[northcoastmum]

~ How long did it take you to understand how to use YouView?
Probably less than a day - it's very intuitive

~ Has your child/children used YouView? How long did it take them to understand it and get used to it?
My 7 year old has used it right from the start, with only minimal guidance. Our 5 year old can use it too, but finds the more complex functions trickier because he's just learning to read. Having said that, the 'stack' of programmes on the on demand menu is great because even the 2 year old can easily identify which episode she wants.

~ Which programmes have you most enjoyed watching on YouView so far?
The kids have enjoyed milkshake, iplayer, and favourite episodes I've taped. We've enjoyed comedy from iplayer and 4od, as well as films from

~ Which of the following services have you most enjoyed so far? Live TV/ on-demand/7 day catch up
The on demand is probably the best, though being able to pause tv has been handy at times.

~ Who in your family has used your YouView box the most?
Probably the kids!

~ What have you found YouView most useful for so far?
We've definitely enjoyed using on demand to be more choosy about what we watch, and it's been really useful in the past couple of weeks to entertain the kids as the combination of my deadlines and bad weather has meant I needed them to be watching more than usual.

[ChaosTrulyReigns]

~ How long did it take you to understand how to use YouView?
not long at all, I found it very easy to navigate.
~ Has your child/children used YouView? How long did it take them to understand it and get used to it?
Again, they found it exceedingly easy to use, even the 6yo
~ Which programmes have you most enjoyed watching on YouView so far?
Broadchurch, most definitely.
~ Which of the following services have you most enjoyed so far? Live TV/ on-demand/7 day catch up
7 day catch up is great, but a bit saddened by the dealy between the programme finishing and it being releasef to view. But I appreciate this probably isn;t under YouView's control
~ Who in your family has used your YouView box the most?
Probably me - I rarely watch live TV, so this has been a great bonus

~ What have you found YouView most useful for so far? Catching up on Broadchurch and Masterchef. Musch better than arsing around on a laptop.

Still irked by the clicky remote though. [ingrate]

[ThePskettiIncident]

~ How long did it take you to understand how to use YouView?

Very quickly got to grips with the basics. Still exploring all the functionality, as there's such a lot you can watch.
Can't work out the pay for additions with bt vision.

~ Has your child/children used YouView? How long did it take them to understand it and get used to it?

My Ds is 2 but loves to turn the orange button to blue!
~ Which programmes have you most enjoyed watching on YouView so far?
~ Which of the following services have you most enjoyed so far? Live TV/ on-demand/7 day catch up
Mixture really, have done all of these. Love being able to record a whole series.
~ Who in your family has used your YouView box the most?
Only me to use it!
~ What have you found YouView most useful for so far? Catching up on
Recording series so I don't miss episodes, having direct access to the iplayer (I was linking my laptop before). Watching only the cbeebies programmes that don't make my brain melt!

The itv player is not as good as the others and the menu is difficult to navigate.

I love the search function as a shortcut to scrolling through the players.

[ThePskettiIncident]

Which programmes have you most enjoyed watching on YouView so far?
Doctor who! Had a house full of visitors over Easter, so finally got to watch it in peace last night.

I've recorded films as well, which is great.

Ds likes having the thomas series recorded and the 50 episodes of roary on the milkshake player.

[MmeLindor]

Can I ask - does this replace Virgin or is it an extra? We have Virgin broadband and TV package, but really only watch the main channels BBC/ITV/CH4 etc

Could we ditch the Virgin TV part of our package and buy one of these?

[IncogKNEEto]

How long did it take you to understand how to use YouView?

No time at all, we all found it very easy to use.

Has your child/children used YouView? How long did it take them to understand it and get used to it?

Our younger (4 and 6 year old) children haven?t used it yet, as the YouView box is in our bedroom, only my husband and I have used it so far. My eldest child (she?s 12) has had a play with it to test it too, and she says that she found it easy to understand and use too.

Which programmes have you most enjoyed watching on YouView so far?

I have watched a lot of CSI, and comedy shows, as well as several films that I have been able to record to watch later when I get the chance.

Which of the following services have you most enjoyed so far?
Live TV/ on-demand/7 day catch up

Probably Live TV, although we have also watched some on-demand shows. Haven?t looked at 7-day catch-up yet.

Who in your family has used your YouView box the most?

Me.

What have you found YouView most useful for so far?
Catching up on shows you've missed/ entertaining the kids/finding something to watch to pass time/ watching TV live/ listening to the radio/ search functionality, backwards 7 day programme guide, on demand players, record functionality

It is great to have an alternative television to watch the programmes I enjoy, particularly when the children are watching endless repeats of their favourite shows and I can ?escape? to watch something I choose!

[trice]

I would like to watch The Adventure Game again. I am still terrified of aspidistra s.

[CrackedNipplesSuchFun]

I would love to watch Killer Net by Lynda le Plante again.

I can't remember sod all about it but it really sticks in my mind as a cracking series

[northcoastmum]

In answer to Mme Lindor, yes you could ditch Virgin tv. Youview is basically the freeview channels, with the addition of catch up/on demand services and the ability to record - if you put your postcode into the website it checks which channels you can receive.

[Schumann]

I'd like to watch again and again The Killing, all 3 series.
V.sad it's over due to;
not bring able to discuss the latest Sarah Lund jumper and,
discovering all the wonderful Danish names we'd never heard of (and trying, but failing, to pronounce them)!!

[MmeLindor]

Thanks, Northcoast. That is great. Will have a proper look now.

[MmeLindor]

Bleeding hell. Just checked my last few phone bills. They are MASSIVE.

Am off to compare with BT and see about getting one of the boxes. Thanks, MNHQ for doing this.

[AlexMumsnet]

Hi MmeLindor In answer to your question, YouView have responded to say: "YouView is a completely different TV service from Virgin Media. You can replace your current TV provider with YouView or get a box for another room in your house. For more information visit youview.com"

[MmeLindor]

Thanks, AlexMN and YouView for clarifying. And for prompting me to check my Virgin bills. Just saved about £50 a month!

[FigAndPear]

I'm not a tester, but wanted to put in a word for "Tales of the Riverbank", a thing that us ancient types used to watch way back in the 70s. Live action hamsters . Apparently they did it by letting them run around with hamster-sized props waiting for them to do something random like standing on hind legs with front paws on a teeny piano. And then they'd join all these bits together and write a storyline around it.

Ahem . Anyway, I'd like to rewind and watch all that again, while slurping a big lemonade ice cream float.

[Chocolateporridge]

~ How long did it take you to understand how to use YouView?

We had the basics sussed within a few hours, its very simple although I'm still finding a couple of new things!

~ Has your child/children used YouView? How long did it take them to understand it and get used to it?

Our daughter is only 2 so she's not allowed to touch it, although we find that the excitement of letting her press the "off" button on the remote helps us to peel her away from it!

~ Which programmes have you most enjoyed watching on YouView so far?

Me - Shetland, The Syndicate, Come Dine With Me
Hubby - Top Gear, Football, Formula One
Daughter - Octonauts, CBeebies

~ Which of the following services have you most enjoyed so far? Live TV/ on-demand/7 day catch up

We've enjoyed On Demand the most. I particularly like the way that when you look for programmes you can see the most popular ones, as I always used to seem to miss out on what everyone was watching!

~ Who in your family has used your YouView box the most?

My husband - without doubt!

~ What have you found YouView most useful for so far? Catching up on
shows you've missed/ entertaining the kids/finding something to watch to pass time/ watching TV live/ listening to the radio/ search functionality, backwards 7 day programme guide, on demand players, record functionality.

To be honest, it's all been superb. I really like the search function as it makes suggestions as you type and is so easy to operate. It's also been great for finding something to watch to pass the time.

[AwkwardAnnie]

~ How long did it take you to understand how to use YouView?
Really quickly, I read the book but it's really simple to use and pretty intuitive (except that Okay takes you back sometimes when I don't expect it.)

~ Has your child/children used YouView? How long did it take them to understand it and get used to it?
DD (5) understands that she can watch things over and over, especially if we've recorded them, but she hasn't worked out how to record them yet herself. DS (18mo) is excellent at turning the Audio description on which was really confusing for a while, he's still surprised that the big blue button on the front turns it off.

~ Which programmes have you most enjoyed watching on YouView so far?
The food channel seems to be popular in our house at the moment, I'm loving being able to regularly catch Warehouse 14 now I can record it.

~ Which of the following services have you most enjoyed so far? Live TV/ on-demand/7 day catch up
Live TV, our aerial isn't very good and we struggled to get a lot of channels with just the built in Freeview, but the YouView box is much more reliable.

~ Who in your family has used your YouView box the most?
Probably the kids for watching TV, me for recording things.... and one day I may even get to watch them!

~ What have you found YouView most useful for so far? Catching up on shows you've missed/ entertaining the kids/finding something to watch to pass time/ watching TV live/ listening to the radio/ search functionality, backwards 7 day programme guide, on demand players, record functionality
Probably a mix between the Search, Record and catch-up services. I often realise I've missed something part way through, so I search for when it's next on again then record that episode, particularly with films that will get watched several times. Or I use the catch-up service.

[likesnowflakesinanocean]

non tester but hopping on to say pushing daisies because i loved it and lost because i need to remind myself whats going on or pause to let my brain catch up

[vincenta]

Non tester here:)
I would love to see "Saved by the bell"