“Digitalization of papers, the evolvement of streaming media, explosion of mass content creation, on-demand access to various content: we are now entering a new era of how television content is created, delivered, and even defined.”
https://www.globallogic.com/insights/blogs/the-future-of-television/
Do you have a TV?
All audience members said yes
Do you have a smart TV?
Many didn’t
If not, why not?
Didn’t need it; used Firestick or Chromecast and a PC, tablet or phone to get streaming content on their TVs
How do you get your content?:
- Free to Air (Spanish TV) – very few, even though you can watch English language films in English.
- Satellite – many members. There had been some changes in Freesat settings due in part to the closure of Standard Definition broadcasts.
- https://en.satexpat.com
- Which nationality? UK, Dutch etc. Mostly Brit – one Swedish. Some content is subscription.
- Any problems with Satellite reception? Some had to change favourite channel numbers and small dishes may need retuning.
- There was some discussion about subscription Sky boxes – was it “safe” to connect a smart TV to the Internet if the TV was also connected to a Sky Box..i.e. would Sky “know” that you were in Spain?
- Streaming
- UK TV – via IPTV
- A small box (Magbox) which you connect to the TV and the Internet which provides UK TV for a monthly subscription? Some members: NOTE: anyone who is selling you UK TV this way is breaking the law since they are selling content to which they do not have broadcast rights. Spanish authorities seem to turn a blind eye to this unless it conflicts with their sports broadcasting.
- A free or subscription app installed on your Firestick / TV/phone or laptop? Some members
- Catchup UK? Yes, quite a few members, accessible with a VPN
- Netflix
- What about the changes in subscription profiles and pricing? Few members subscribed to Netflix. Some shared UK subscriptions which haven’t been hit by changes yet.
- Amazon Prime
- Part of the prime package – any good? Most members subscribed to Prime for shopping. The video content was an added bonus. Chris remarked that foreign language films had subtitles only in Spanish.
- YouTube – Owned by Google – Free and paid content. Few members used this.
- Other – HBO, Disney, Mubi – does anybody subscribe? – no but there’s a new kid on the block: Skyshowtime
- UK TV – via IPTV
- DVDs and Blu Ray? …now 4K https://www.blu-ray.com/4k/
hardly anyone!
- Do you go to the cinema? – if not, why not? https://www.cinejayan.com
This Jávea cinema now has matinées for English language films and Spanish films subtitled in English. Some members go to the cinema (Covid may have affected attendance?) – Chris noted that the acclaimed film “The Quiet Girl” was on this week – unfortunately it was mostly in Irish, and would be subtitled in Spanish! - Torrented content ?
- Do you use a VPN for this? – mostly yes – but it may not be necessary.
- https://www.downloadprivacy.com/safest-countries-to-download-torrents
Few members use torrents, although it is not illegal in Spain if you don’t intend to make money from the downloaded content.
- Have your viewing habits changed over the past few years?
If so – Why?? – Most members seemed to stick to broadcast TV, although the quality seems to have dropped off in recent years with lots of repeats, reality TV and game shows. Broadcast series show one episode a week, and are a pain to record and recorded content is often interrupted with adverts. By contrast, you can binge-watch a streamed series, or stop it and come back at will. Chris is fond of international cinema and TV and finds this mostly on Netflix, having been introduced to Scandi Noire by BBC4 (which no longer transmits such stuff)