Thank you Doodledog - yes she has but she is afraid of being confused with having to have two controls.
We had a roku very happily for years bur she won't have one!
She's 100 now and personally I think having a new TV will be at least as confusing!
Gransnet forums
TV, radio, film, Arts
Is anyone watching streaming services more?
(41 Posts)Just a thought, are more Gransnetters watching Youtube, I Players and streaming services like Netflix than television channels like BBC One and ITV1? I've just completed watching a boxed set of The Cops, a hard hitting police drama from 25 years ago that I'd forgotten about, and really enjoyed it. Also I've completed watching all the eighties Auf Wiedersehen Pet episodes online and use Youtube about 2 houts a day at night.
When it comes to terrestrial television and the four main channels in particular, it's just the same worn out and predictable programmes every day and the same old entertainment shows every Saturday.
Sorry if this is stating the obvious, but has she considered a Fire Stick or a Roku one? There may well be others, too. You pay a one-off fee for the stick, but there is no subscription fee other than for things like Netflix if you have them. The free apps (like BBC and C4) stay free.
Doodledog
My mother-in-law's TV has also lost 4OD and has had a warning that BBC iplayer is ceasing anytime now.
She can't get BBC Sounds on it now either.
Hers is a Samsung.
Our Channel 4 streaming is abysmal. Long , long gaps when adverts buffer. We ignore the channel if we can .
For those on the edge of of their seats waiting to see whether I can watch U in bed, I contacted them, and they are aware of the issue with Roku, and are 'working on it', whatever that means.
I've never understood how different brands of TV seem to have access to different channels/apps. You'd think that it would be like the Internet on computers - if you have access you can see everything on it - but that's not the case. A friend of mine lost access to 4OD all of a sudden, and said it was because her TV (Sony, I think) no longer had a licence to access it.
Doodledog
Is anyone having problems with the U channel? I am finding that I can see the programmes but if I try to watch one there’s an error message. I’ve uninstalled and reinstalled the app, but it’s still happening.
Apparently the problem is with Roku. I can watch U downstairs using Fire, but I usually watch U in bed, as the programmes tend to b easy watching, and that TV uses Roku. I hope it's a glitch rather than that they've stopped collaborating.
I disappeared into the Time Machine that is utube last night and watched lots of old footage of Pentangle. I hadn’t realised that they’d reformed @ 2008 and played Glastonbury. Or that, at the height of their fame they drank so heavily that they’d leave Jackie on stage singing solo and take themselves off to the bar leaving her wondering if they’d ever come back.
Cumbrianmale56 -
I really like I Player for finding old television series I haven't watched for years and binge watch them. Anything has to be better than the same clapped out shows every day on BBC One ot ITV.
...surely if you are deliberately watching old television series they are by nature old?
How are you differentiating "old" from "clapped out"?
Some of the shows people are listing above are definitely "clapped out" in my opinion? 
I'm not challenging you here. Some old things are worth a second look.
I appreciate having lots of choice.
I've found I love the access to foreign language dramas that streaming allows. It is a real treat. Many of our "old shows" are decidedly "old"!
We watch Channel 4 News, News night, QT and Gardeners' World but little else on broadcast channels - too much dumbed down rubbish. We find Netflix and Prime fairly good and occasionally have used NOW (for Babylon Berlin) but we won't subscribe to others.
I had problems with the U channel a while ago. I was trying to watch Last Tango In Halifax, but the picture kept disappearing momentarily on and off. I thought it was my tv, but no.
Started watching it on iPlayer instead, and haven’t tried U since.
Is anyone having problems with the U channel? I am finding that I can see the programmes but if I try to watch one there’s an error message. I’ve uninstalled and reinstalled the app, but it’s still happening.
I watch a lot on Prime and iplayer.
Also use ch4 catchup for MAFS UK.
Only progs on main tv at the moment are Bake Off for the fun element and Celebrity SAS both on ch4.
I base a lot of my viewing on the recommendations on Must Watch on R5: it throws up programmes that I’ve never heard of. And it’s good fun, too.
I am definitely watching streaming services much more than scheduled TV.
I watch very little at the moment. I can't find much to be excited about on the main channels or streaming. I'd rather read a good book.
Normally I watch BBC Newschannel and Sky News a lot but I can't bear them at the moment, just so depressing.
I really like I Player for finding old television series I haven't watched for years and binge watch them. Anything has to be better than the same clapped out shows every day on BBC One ot ITV.
I go through the Radio Times when it is delivered and circle all the programmes of interest. Then DH has his turn. Quite often there a several days absolutely blank. So yes we do watch more streaming services.
Disney has just launched Jilly Cooper's Rivals which stars David Tennant, one of my favourites. We subscribe to Netflix and also Prime (through our Amazon sub) and don't want to subscribe to another streaming channel. The Guardian highlights the best films and other stuff each week. Or I should say that its reviewers think are the best. Often they are on services other than Netflix.
Very often these free channels are running repeats of old shows originally made by terrestrial channels. Without good old BBC and ITV they'd be short of things to show. At least Netflix etc commission new programmes and drama series.
We pay our tv licence but upon reflection, hardly watch it! BBC iPlayer (so yes, there) and Netflix are my go-to. Himself likes sport so it’s SKY for him pretty much.
Like others we record what we want to watch and see it later minus adds if ITV . We start ar 6.30 pm and stop at 9 pm every night. What do people watch on U Tube ? I seldom look at it .
Our TV watching tends to be from about 6:30 - 10, so not that long (except for football).
As others, we record from terrestrial what we haven’t managed to see, we’ve never binge watched a series, preferring to watch it ‘live’.
I watch YouTube constantly, very rarely watch anything on tv despite having sky.
I’m currently binge watching Abel and Victoria, a New Zealand couple who hike up mountains in snow and rain and camp out. He does lovely commentaries and shows wonderful scenery.
Also walking in heavy rain, there are loads of clips going around rural villages in Indonesia. Fascinating houses and scenery. And blimey can it rain.
I run rain sounds videos all night and I have never slept so soundly.
I watch mainline TV mostly, never watch YouTube as in a programme, just sometime for a song or a tip or similar
No I very rarely watch Netflix or other mentioned sites
If I miss stuff I watch it on my iPlayer but for the most part I can find everything I want on my Freeview channels
Cumbrianmale56 BBCIPlayer has 100s of items. There is also a Drama channel which is re-running Waking the Dead and McMafia at the moment. PBS America, which I've just posted about also has interesting stuff.
Maddyfour I'm watching Joan too. I have a lot of sympathy for the character but can't see how she's going to solve her problems. Show Trial on Sunday BBC 1 which started last week is looking good.
Join the conversation
Registering is free, easy, and means you can join the discussion, watch threads and lots more.
Register now »Already registered? Log in with:
Gransnet »

