NOW

[London Lite]

I can't confirm as I haven't tested it, but it appears NOW are beta testing an Android TV app for the Nvidia Shield according to some users.

[all new Phil]

I can't confirm as I haven't tested it, but it appears NOW are beta testing an Android TV app for the Nvidia Shield according to some users.

I have no idea what any of this means.

[London Lite]

I can't confirm as I haven't tested it, but it appears NOW are beta testing an Android TV app for the Nvidia Shield according to some users.

I have no idea what any of this means.

NOW are moving away from using their own streaming devices to providing apps for third party providers. Currently, the only official Android TV app is for Sony Android TV users, yet those who try to sideload NOW app apks to other Android TV devices are usually blocked by Sky as they don't have a deal with the manufacturer to allow it on their devices, which is why you can't use a sideloaded NOW apk on other Android TV kit.

A commercial deal with Sony or Nvidia is more lucrative to both parties than allowing their Android TV app on all devices where Sky make nothing from allowing it for all. It's different for phones and tablets where they need as many apps on devices as possible.

[Mateus Honrado]

It's a shame that Now is unavailable on first generation Amazon Fire TV sticks since when it was announced last year that the service would be available on Amazon Fire devices, it mentioned that the service would be available on the Fire TV sticks from the second generation onwards.

[WillPS]

It's a shame that Now is unavailable on first generation Amazon Fire TV sticks since when it was announced last year that the service would be available on Amazon Fire devices, it mentioned that the service would be available on the Fire TV sticks from the second generation onwards.

Presumably there is a reason, and the barrier to buying (or upgrading) with Fire sticks is so low it's not a huge problem.

[Neil Jones]

Fire Sticks are cheap. And almost always on offer. Fire Stick 4k Max currently 33% off RRP. Or there is Fire Stick Lite, which is a steal at £15 (50% off) if you don't need Alexa, 4k or TV volume control/on-off.

Best thing that ever happened, Now becoming available on Fire Stick, meant I could remove the Now TV black box, my Pi Kodi box and use the Fire stick (I have the 4k) as a one stop shop for Netflix, Prime, Disney+, all the other apps and my DVD collection through Kodi. I use 2nd Gen Firestick on the TV in the bedroom, set up in the same way (near enough).

[London Lite]

Best thing that ever happened, Now becoming available on Fire Stick, meant I could remove the Now TV black box

I removed my 4K Now TV box for the Fire TV Cube which is a lot faster than the Roku badged boxes and has a lot more tv apps on it.

[CCFG]

I'm using a Roku Express for NOW (and also for iPlayer, as the compatibility for 1080p seems to have the model number of it). Works wonders. I used to use the Freeview NOW TV boxes from 2016 and the Roku is much better. Roku Express can also have some very good discounts. I found one in Curry's a few months ago that was about £13 (RRP is £30).

[Mateus Honrado]

It's a shame that Now is unavailable on first generation Amazon Fire TV sticks since when it was announced last year that the service would be available on Amazon Fire devices, it mentioned that the service would be available on the Fire TV sticks from the second generation onwards.

Presumably there is a reason, and the barrier to buying (or upgrading) with Fire sticks is so low it's not a huge problem.

I know but I find it odd that Now isn't available on the first gen while Netflix and Disney+ are available on said generation.

[London Lite]

I'm surprised there are still people using first gen Fire Sticks as they're not the fastest or the most compatible, despite Netflix and Disney supporting it when as mentioned above, the Fire Stick Lite which is on offer for next to nothing is a better device.

Even when I had my first gen Fire Stick, I found it worked fine on Prime Video and not much else!

One of the reasons why NOW stopped supporting the first gen NOW TV white box is that it wasn't compatible with the features of Boost or the Hayu membership.

[Pete]

Amazon even give you credit on top of the discounts to replace your fire stick when you send an old one back. They must be selling them at, or below, cost.

[London Lite]

Amazon even give you credit on top of the discounts to replace your fire stick when you send an old one back. They must be selling them at, or below, cost.

When NOW first started, they used to heavily subsidise the boxes at £9.99 with a pass. Presumably it's the old printer trick of selling the device at below cost and then making the money on refills or in the case of the Fire stick, sales throughout the Amazon platform.

[CCFG]

I don't know if this is just me, but am I the only person who has NOW on and off? Let's say I have it one month, binge the shows on there and then cancel it the next month, and then picking it back up when something new is added that I want to watch? Just curious to see everyone's opinions.

I do also pick it up when stuff like the F1 is on as well.

[Brekkie]

That's part of the idea but they just hope you won't cancel, hence the offers.

I'll get sport back for the darts this week - hoping they might have a decent six month offer which might tempt me to cover the rest of the season. Indeed if there isn't might be worth getting ga month pass rather than a week in the hope of a cancellation offer.

[London Lite]

It was discussed elsewhere but one of the reasons why NOW and Sky offer retention deals is to keep the customer base high and to ensure advertisers have enough people who can watch the linear channels in the first place. No subs, no advertisers.

They did recently introduce advertising pre-rolls for NOW customers who don't take Boost on their VOD content.

NOW however has dropped from third to fourth in the UK's most used SVOD platforms. Disney+ is third behind Netflix and Prime Video.