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Freesat turned on a smart Sky Q-like feature that allowed its viewers to schedule recordings anywhere in the world. The subscription-free satellite platform said the decision to drop the functionality, which has been part of the Freesat package for years, was due to “a change to our internal systems”.
Before last month’s dramatic shake-up, Freesat viewers could schedule recordings on their Freesat set-top box from an iPhone, iPad, Android phone or tablet from anywhere. via the Freesat mobile app. That’s something that Sky Stream, Sky Glass and Sky Q subscribers they did it long ago.
On the Google Play Store, Everyone TV still advertises the ability to schedule recordings remotely using the companion Freesat app as one of the benefits – despite the feature being retired last month.
EVERY TV | GOOGLE PLAY STORE | GBN
Virgin TV 360 and EE TV – both popular rival set-top boxes with many of the same features – also allow viewers to schedule recordings remotely via a companion app on their phone or tablet.
The Freesat team explains the decision shared the update on his websitewhich states: “Due to a change in our internal systems, we will be removing Freesat ID accounts from our platform from mid-June 2024. As a result of this change, the Remote Record feature will no longer be a feature in the Freesat mobile apps for iOS and Android.”
The decision has an impact All Freesat models, including the latest generation of Freesat set-top boxes equipped with 4K Ultra HD, released by Humax in recent months.
Furious Freesat viewers flooded the mobile app offering with negative reviews. Sending in the Google Play Storeone Freesat viewer wrote: “The app is now useless as it will no longer send recordings to your inbox or update your playlist. According to Freesat, there was an update on June 24th that removed the accounts, rendering the app useless.
“Everything now has to be done directly on the box. So don’t bother downloading it and you can also remove it from your phone like I did. I don’t see the point in developing an app if it makes it unusable for its intended use.”
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Another echoed the same frustration, leaving a one-star review with the comment: “Freesat deliberately removed the best feature of this app. The recording feature from the app no ​​longer works and there are no plans to bring it back… WHY ??? The app is now just a channel guide.”
Freesat viewers disappointed by the shake-up also took to social media to complain about the remote recordings being removed.
@freesatadvice Hi, I am very disappointed with the removal of recording devices from Android and iOS devices. It’s such a retrograde step. I can’t believe you took it. Surely getting systems back up and running must be high on your priority list? Why did you take it?
— John Smith (@bogallan1) June 28, 2024
I totally agree with you Matt. I just spent £229 on a new box and inside the box was this lovely advert for the freesat app. What to say? @freesat @freesatadvice ?
I’ll take it back and get a @FreeviewTV box? Or worse, go to @skytv ? pic.twitter.com/GdCZtHJhc1— Gavros2000 (@GavParf) June 26, 2024
Anyone who wants to schedule a recording of an individual show, TV series or movie will have to pick up a remote control and manually press a button.
It comes as Everyone TV – the organization behind Freeview and Freesat backed by the UK’s biggest broadcasters, including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 – launched a new free-to-air platform in the UK earlier this year, known as Freely.
Unlike Freeview and Freesat, this brand new offering streams linear channels and boxsets on demand over a cable or wireless internet connection. This is similar to solutions such as Sky Glass, Sky Stream, Virgin Media Streamand the rebooted EE TV launched last year. Relying on broadband means you’ll be able to place your TV anywhere in the house with a decent Wi-Fi signal – not where the antenna comes into the wall.
Scouring reviews of the Freesat mobile app can be found on the Google Play Store following the developers’ decision to introduce a remote upload feature
GOOGLE PLAY STORE | FREESAT | GBN
However, this industry-wide trend has some experts sounding the alarm that those without a decent internet connection it could be left unable to watch live television by 2040.
Freely is not available as a software update for existing Freeview or Freesat viewers. Since it requires new hardware, you will only be able to start benefiting from it its new functions — for example, the ability to access all episodes on demand from the show list in TV Guide and the ability to restart a show from the beginning with a single tap — when upgrading to a new TV.
as it stands six different TV manufacturers have launched brand new smart TVs with Freely as the default way of watching free-to-air channels. However, Samsung remains the biggest absentee.