Live TV On Your iPhone
Posted on 8th Dec 2009 at 10:22 by Antony Leather with 23 comments
On my way to work this morning I experienced something amazing. I watched live TV on my iPhone using a 3G signal, for free. That's right. No WiFi and no video file saved in my phone's precious storage. Just a plain, every day, boring old data connection. What's more - it worked nigh-on flawlessly as long as the 3G connection was upheld.
I've been using the TV streaming website TV Catchup for about a year now. I don't watch a great deal of TV, and if I don't have time to catch my favourite TV shows when they are on, I usually use TV Catchup. It's free, works brilliantly and it’s now available in free brilliance on the iPhone.
I was a bit sceptical at first, as most video services such as YouTube are stuttery and of poor quality over a 3G connection. However within 20 seconds of visiting TV Catchup on my iPhone, I was watching BBC News 24 in great quality, with no stuttering and I had the choice of 14 other channels too.
It was quite a surreal experience and, in keeping with most other iPhone features, using it was snappy and hassle free. The only downside is that 3G coverage outside of London is a bit sketchy on my carrier, O2, so the TV froze for a minute or so when venturing out in the sticks. There were a couple of long tunnels too which also saw it stop working momentarily.
However for a first attempt it's simply awesome and for those with a long bus journey through a 3G-saturated area such as London, it's excellent time-sinking entertainment. Have you tried TV Catchup's iPhone streaming service? What are your thoughts on mobile TV? Let us know in the comments.
I've been using the TV streaming website TV Catchup for about a year now. I don't watch a great deal of TV, and if I don't have time to catch my favourite TV shows when they are on, I usually use TV Catchup. It's free, works brilliantly and it’s now available in free brilliance on the iPhone.
I was a bit sceptical at first, as most video services such as YouTube are stuttery and of poor quality over a 3G connection. However within 20 seconds of visiting TV Catchup on my iPhone, I was watching BBC News 24 in great quality, with no stuttering and I had the choice of 14 other channels too.
It was quite a surreal experience and, in keeping with most other iPhone features, using it was snappy and hassle free. The only downside is that 3G coverage outside of London is a bit sketchy on my carrier, O2, so the TV froze for a minute or so when venturing out in the sticks. There were a couple of long tunnels too which also saw it stop working momentarily.
However for a first attempt it's simply awesome and for those with a long bus journey through a 3G-saturated area such as London, it's excellent time-sinking entertainment. Have you tried TV Catchup's iPhone streaming service? What are your thoughts on mobile TV? Let us know in the comments.
23 Comments
Discuss in the forums Reply*200mb fair useage on O2 apparently
How many episodes of Top Gear would that get you?
That would be easy. They would simply have to look for people staring at their iPhones, whilst walking into a lampost, all with a guilty look on their faces for hogging all O2's 3G network bandwidth. See you in Guantanamo:D
IIRC the TV licence is only required if you are watching 'live' TV broadcasts (ie top gear at its normal time slot of 8pm).
I would imagine this catchup service is more like Iplayer whereby you don't need a tv licence as the shoes only appear after they have been shown on tv.
Although the TV licence thing is quite a grey area.
Does this service work on a I pod touch (via Wifi)?
It is actually live streaming. I watch top gear when it's on ie 9pm on a Sunday night.
Interesting, I stand corrected. In that case the TV licence question would be even more murky.
Shame 3G coverage is a bit crap on the move up this way!
Yes, I know, an iPhone would be far easier... However I'm mid-way through a contract, so can't upgrade for nearly a year yet...
Still though I would have thought this would class as " continuous streaming of any audio/video content"
Do you travel much?
I don't drive (lame, I know) so I have to catch the bus back & fore to work; mobile video like this - provided there's something good on! - is a godsend. Plus it's a hell of a lot easier than converting all my videos into iPod/iPhone format and importing them into iTunes....
now just need to upgrade from iPhone EDGE to 3GS in the distance future.....