Mandatory switch to 360 coming up?

[SpacePhoenix]

Is it going to become mandatory soon for everyone to migrate over to 360? VM seem to be really pushing 360 now with the upgrade app on the TiVo apps page and I had a pop-up come up on my V6 advertising 360.

[japitts]

VM have no published plans for compulsory conversions.

Further, they have publicly committed to developing the Sky Sports HD multiscreen for V6 boxes.

[Kath_F]

Hi SpacePhoenix, 

Thanks for taking the time to contact us via the Community. It's lovely having you on board with us in the Forums. ⭐

Currently there are no plans to stop offering a service for the V6 box however there are some features that will only work with the 360 box so anyone not on 360 may not be getting use of everything that's included in their package. 

If and when we do decide to retire the V6 service, we will of course be in touch with more information. 

Thanks, 

[nodrogd]

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@SpacePhoenix wrote:

Is it going to become mandatory soon for everyone to migrate over to 360? VM seem to be really pushing 360 now with the upgrade app on the TiVo apps page and I had a pop-up come up on my V6 advertising 360.

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TiVO that drives V6, works on CATV broadcast technology. VM, in making the decision to go full fibre using XGS-PON technology is not only abandoning DOCSIS in a few years time, but also the broadcast technology that drives the TiVO boxes. V360 Horizon can run on both broadcast & IPTV, although local recording is only possible with the broadcast format. Horizon also runs VM Stream boxes, & this is the only TV product being offered to current & new  XGS-PON customers.

[Roger_Gooner]

The 360 runs the Horizon 4 middleware which has been developed by owner Liberty Global for several years, and it's only a matter of time that the agreement with TiVo runs out. This is why VM is pushing the 360 and although migrations from the V6 are voluntary they will inevitably become compulsory at some point. Furthermore there are big changes coming as VM is migrating to an all-IP platform, so everyone on 360s will have to move to Stream one day.

[Tavis75]

I really don't understand the logic in forcing everyone to a Stream box, seems like it makes their TV service redundant if you're just having to use the on demand apps to watch stuff, might as well pay a one off fee for an Amazon Firestick or AppleTV etc. rather than paying a monthly sub for the privilege.

[nodrogd]

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@Tavis75 wrote:

I really don't understand the logic in forcing everyone to a Stream box, seems like it makes their TV service redundant if you're just having to use the on demand apps to watch stuff, might as well pay a one off fee for an Amazon Firestick or AppleTV etc. rather than paying a monthly sub for the privilege.

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Quite simply, broadcast formats are getting more & more expensive because they are becoming less & less used. This is why providers like Sky & VM are focusing on OTT (Over The Top) delivery of services. In the rest of Europe, these systems can & do record to the cloud, making your recordings available anywhere on your devices, not just in your home. Whether this eventually happens here is up to the broadcasters.

[Adduxi]

I'll just hang on to my old Freeview Humax recorder until TV over aerial is switched off.

I'll have non of this IP TV nonsense, dinosaurs rule I tell you !  Or at least they did until they went extinct ....  😉

[Roger_Gooner]

VM is migrating to an all-IP platform, so the DOCSIS networks will be replaced - and with it the STBs like the 360. There will no longer be broadcast TV, it will be IPTV with everything being streamed. This is a massive cost saving and hugely efficient (and I expect that VM can hand back most of its valuable spectrum to OFCOM), but with the obvious disadvantage that the facility to record everything which we've had for decades will be gone and will never return.

[Tavis75]

Of course, the lack of recording is purely a broadcaster\provider choice, there's no technical reason it has to disappear. I'm hoping some enterprising individual will have provided a recording system for Freely by the time we lose Freeview. I believe such systems are available for Netflix\Disney etc. so hopefully someone will spend the time on Freely as well.