broadbandchoices news from 2013
It’s still a couple of weeks ‘til Christmas, but your true love - telly - has already sent to you five extra channels, all in glorious high-definition. And the best part is they’re free, however you watch TV...
Liverpool vs Arsenal, Arsenal vs Manchester United and Chelsea vs Everton will all be on BT Sport in the new year. Want to know how to book your place at the table for this football feast? Well that's what we're here for…
You'll no longer need to be a Sky customer to enjoy recent blockbusters subscription-free with Sky’s movie streaming service Sky Store. Great stuff - but is it the Netflix killer some are predicting it could be?
Don’t like the idea of having to wait around for hours for an engineer to switch you to fibre broadband? Sky’s new router makes it only the second major provider with whom you can make the switch in your own sweet time.
The ball’s in BT Sport’s court! Basketball superstars LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony and more heading to UK TV screens, as BT alley-oops the rights to NBA games. But how can you get your eyes on it? Let us enlighten you…
Are you using the internet more and more on your phone? You’re far from the only one, which is why the UK communications regulator has planned how demand for mobile broadband will be met in the future.
At broadbandchoices.co.uk we’re proud to do things differently - we speak only plain English everyone can understand - but providers love using technical speak, which can leave you feeling lost. And it could also see you paying way too much for your broadband…
You can now watch more Sky TV on your PC, mobile or tablet than ever, as the likes of Comedy Central, Discovery and Dave arrive on Sky Go. So you can enjoy even more of the best Sky telly whenever and wherever you’re online…
Teams from League One, League Two and the Conference Premier could face each other on BT Sport next month - just days after BT announced it’ll show live Champions League football exclusively from 2015.
Virgin Media customers will see their bills go up in 2014, the provider has announced. However, it’s not all bad news, particularly for those with a need for speed…
European football has a new home - BT Sport. Here’s everything we know, including what you’ll need to watch the giants of European football clash from the 2015/2016 season.
Sky has launched a collection of limited edition set-top boxes created by fashion designers and style icons to promote the Sky+HD 2TB box with built-in Wi-Fi. Want to know how to get your hands one? Well read on…
Yorkshire provider KC pokes its head above the parapet to criticise a report suggesting 19Mb broadband speeds will be all people need to see them through their next 10 years using the internet…
BT Sport may be a bargain when it comes to watching football on TV, but Sky Sports is proving it still rules the roost by showing almost twice as many matches over Christmas and New Year, including Chelsea vs United.
To meet a typical family’s download demands, 10 years from now the average speed will need to be 19Mb - pretty much unimaginable in rural areas, but already the norm for the many UK households with fibre optic broadband...
If you’ve got BT Sport you can look forward to watching Liverpool vs Everton, Spurs vs Manchester City and more in the New Year. And if you haven’t got BT Sport, there are now more ways to get it than ever before.
Want a 4G plan with a half-decent data allowance, but don’t want to commit to a long contract? Then the O2 4G Pay & Go Go Go tariff, which ups your allowance the longer you’re on it it, could be a good call.
A staggering 93% of people who get broadband currently pick BT over other providers, many of them attracted by the free BT Sport - but they could be missing a trick by not fully weighing up all their options before signing up...
If you’re sick and tired of being bombarded with sales calls day and night, there’s a new way to do something about it with TalkTalk – they’ll block the number, not just for you but every TalkTalk customer...
If you watch TV with Freeview, TalkTalk is looking to tempt you with a bundle that gives you YouView, broadband and calls for just over £20 a month all in. But is it a genuine alternative to BT, Sky or Virgin Media TV?
You can now watch Mad Men, Game of Thrones and that Karl Pilkington show with no need for a Sky package or satellite dish. You just need broadband fast enough for streaming and a NOW TV subscription...
You can now tailor your BT TV package to your needs with the launch of HD Extra, Kids Extra and three on-demand options - with the former essentially a free upgrade if you already pay for BT Sport in HD.
Someone’s been a busy EE - the mobile network’s expanded its 4G network across Wales and Essex, and launched a range of low cost plans. But is there a catch?
If you’ve got Plusnet broadband you’ll be able to watch live Barclays Premier League football, Aviva Premiership Rugby and more by adding BT Sport to your package from Bonfire Night - but you’ll need a Sky box too.
Settings on Google Chrome will help add an extra layer of protection against the web’s less child-friendly offerings, giving mums and dads more peace of mind when the kids are using the internet...
Ofcom is clamping down on mid-contract price hikes, so the next time your provider decides to whack up its line rental, you’ll be able to wave them goodbye and switch to a better deal elsewhere - with no pesky fees to pay…
A whole family can gather round NOW TV to watch Sky Movies films for only £8.99 per month - giving you all the latest blockbusters you can’t get on Netflix or LOVEFiLM for roughly the price of one adult ticket to the cinema…
If you live in Hull, you’ll be well aware there’s a huge lack of choice when it comes to your broadband. You’re stuck on KC and there’s nowt you can do - but that might not be such a bad thing it seems…
Mums and dads encouraged to look at internet safety in the home, and invest some time in setting up parental controls, as children as young as nine admit to meeting up with the strangers they chat to online.
Rural households with limited or no access to broadband may benefit from ‘superfast’ home Wi-Fi powered by EE's 4G mobile network - but as yet there’s no word about how much it’ll cost or which areas will be able to get it…
People who switch to Plusnet broadband are the most likely to research the options online prior to choosing a package - perhaps by no coincidence Plusnet customers are also the UK’s most satisfied…
Got a BT Vision+ or YouView TV box? You’ll soon be able to add a Sky Movies subscription to your BT package - but to watch the film channels live you’ll need superfast Infinity fibre optic broadband...
You can watch live Premier League football, Aviva Premiership Rugby and more on BT Sport for nada this weekend and the one after next, as BT looks to persuade you that great sport does happen there.
The telecoms giant will televise 10 Barclays Premier League matches live over the festive season, three of which see the title contenders clash. Want to try before you buy? Well, you can over the next few weeks…
Films from Curzon Home Cinema are now available on BT TV, which means if you’re a movie buff you can now watch independent and world cinema as well as blockbusters on the telecom giant’s television service.
Previews, exclusive boxsets and enhanced on-demand search, and 12 new channels on catch-up, means there’s never been a better time to introduce your Sky box to your broadband connection.
New website digitalskills.com helps the tech-savvy teach online skills that up to 30% of adults still don't have. Could you be a 'digital champion' and teach others what you know about the web'?
Sudden price hike is likely to disappoint the wave of new customers attracted by free BT Sport, who may only just have tied themselves into at least a 12-month contract…
Research shows millions of switch-phobic Brits choose to stick with the same provider for five years or even longer - throwing their money away as cheaper deals and far better speeds become available...
SimplyBroadband is a budget option for anyone who just wants broadband without calls. It's super cheap and super unlimited - but if you want it superfast it'll cost you £10 extra per month...
New sports channels and YouView helped BT clinch the big prize ahead of serious TV rivals Sky and Virgin Media - but the others were still award winners for range of channels and customer service...
Yorkshire provider's "honest broadband" scooped six of our 10 Customer Satisfaction Awards, beating much larger rivals Sky, BT and Virgin Media in some major categories - not least customer service, value for money and reliability...
In December, Three will join EE, O2 and Vodafone in offering 4G - but, unlike the others, won't charge any more than it currently does for 3G. So could it be worth waiting for?
The latest Freesat HD box connects to your broadband for catch-up TV services such as BBC iPlayer and 4oD. But although it's pretty cheap at £99, you won't be able to record programmes...
Vodafone 4G customers to get an extra 4GB to play with each month for the duration of their contract. It's a cracking deal that arrives just in time for the launch of the iPhone 5S.
Virgin Media's teamed up with its online rival, making it much cheaper to watch films on TV. You'll no longer need to pay Sky Movies prices, but won't get as many new releases.
As O2 and Vodafone launch their 4G, Three has unveiled plans to offer it free of charge to all customers - the only UK mobile network to have made such a promise. And it'll also give you unlimited data...
Virgin Media is to help Sony launch its PS4 in the UK, which could see gamers being able to spread the cost of their next console in a similar way to how we buy our expensive smartphones on contract.
BT Sport's broadcast of the Liverpool vs Stoke City game on Saturday drew a bigger audience than when ESPN screened the opening match last season - but sadly some fans will have missed it.
Over 10,000 venues across the UK will be showing BT Sport from this weekend, plus you can watch on a smartphone or tablet anywhere - but only if you've got BT broadband.
Customers on Virgin's XL TV package now get BT Sport at no extra cost, making Virgin Media the only place to get the sports channels free of charge when you're not with BT for your home broadband.
Existing customers with a 4G-compatible smartphone can upgrade to 4G without having to sign a new contract - unlike EE customers, who are tied in for at least 15 months.
Critics say BT is wrong to have spent so much money on its new TV sports channels, but competition for Sky should mean more choice and lower prices for customers.
Over a million homes are to have BT Sport up and running in time for the Premier League season kicking off this coming weekend - and many of them will be able to watch without paying a penny.
Customers are turning to the social media teams of internet providers for help with their broadband and answers to general enquiries, and yet it seems it's sometimes wiser to pick up the phone if you want a speedy response.
We'll soon have a choice of three 4G mobile providers and Vodafone is hoping to stand out from its rivals by offering something extra - free Spotify or Sky Sports streaming on your 4G enabled device.
Students can now get 'truly unlimited' BT Infinity superfast broadband on a special nine-month contract. So you won't still be paying when the house is empty over the summer.
Broadband customers will no longer have to contact their provider before they can switch - the new provider will take care of everything, so the process is simpler than ever.
Average broadband speeds in the whole of the UK have doubled in the last two years, but those in rural areas are still stuck on the wrong side of an ever-increasing divide.
Rural broadband schemes may lose their funding unless councils agree to reveal their secret plans, which could once again mean rural communities are left out in the cold.
Our obsession with tablets and other Wi-Fi enabled gadgets means speeds are being stretched to their limit - but is superfast broadband helping or does it turn us into even bigger addicts?
Price hike season is underway with both Plusnet and TalkTalk ramping up charges, despite Ofcom plans that could mean providers benefit from reduced wholesale costs.
New TV sports channels from BT will finally go live later today, and BT broadband customers - plus anyone with Freeview for one night only - can watch without paying.
First places to have a choice of more than one 4G provider will be London, Leeds and Bradford when fast O2 mobile internet goes live in the three UK cities at the end of August.
Virgin Media and BT confirm they're in talks over how the three BT Sport channels - BT Sport 1, BT Sport 2 and ESPN - can be offered to the cable provider's TV customers.
It's now possible to download TV shows from 4oD to watch on the move with an iPhone, iPad or Android device when an internet connection is not available for streaming.
Government demands more transparency as councils block details of superfast broadband availability - or lack of it - in a bid to bury bad news for fear of a backlash from rural folk that are missing out.
Loaded with apps like Spotify and BBC iPlayer - and giving you Sky TV without a satellite dish - the NOW TV box is not only smaller than a beer mat but a lot more entertaining.
Google is taking on Apple TV with the launch of Chromecast - a small, cheap device that makes it easy to stream from Netflix and YouTube on the biggest screen in the house. Let's take a look at it...
Most people signing up for YouView - TalkTalk's set-top box, which connects to your broadband for catch-up TV and on-demand - previously had Freeview or Freesat.
People who switch to EE's superfast network are likely to gobble up more data - but with 4G usage limits as low as 500MB they could easily run out and have to pay extra.
Providers increasingly give an estimated broadband speed to potential customers before they've signed up, meaning fewer nasty surprises for those who do - but there's still room for improvement.
Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton have brought a little boy into the world, and Twitter has welcomed the new prince by going into meltdown as #RoyalBaby fever reigns.
As well as adding a host of new programmes, the man they call Colin and AC Jimbo, BT Sport has recruited Gary McAllister and revealed its live coverage will include demonstrations on an interactive playing surface.
David Cameron plans to put a blanket ban on all websites offering adult content, and as a result grown-ups who still want access will need to request it from their provider.
broadbandchoices.co.uk rounds up the week’s technology news. This week: BT slated by MPs for being stingy, the Premier League gets FrontRow blocked, the use of phones on the throne and more...
Wireless broadband that can reach even the smallest room of the house has transformed the ways in which we entertain ourselves - not least when perched on the porcelain.
An extra 50 hours of 3D TV is being added to Virgin Media's On Demand library, yet only a fortnight ago the BBC decided to scrap its 3D output citing a lack of public interest...
Whether or not BT Sport sharing exclusive TV rights to the FA Cup with the Beeb is enough to tempt Sky Sports customers is debatable, but most football fans are unlikely to be sad about saying ‘so long’ to ITV’s coverage…
More than 100 pubs in London and the south-east will soon offer customers free Wi-Fi in response to growing demand for booze and food with a side order of internet access.
Households with Freeview HD or a YouView set-top box will soon receive as many as 10 extra high-definition channels, including new HD versions of CBeebies and BBC Three.
Leaked letter suggests there's a great deal of tension and disagreement between the UK government and broadband providers over how to manage children's safety online.
High-speed mobile internet from Three - based on the UK's fastest 3G technology - is not quite as fast as 4G from EE, but offers unlimited data for a fraction of the price.
Sky Sports to show more live Premier League football by December than rival BT Sport will over the entire season as it looks to put the new kid on the block in its place. Find out when your club is on here...
Satellite TV company Sky's broadband was named best in the UK overall, while Yorkshire based provider Plusnet was praised for having the best customer service.
Zombies, soap operas and football teams - today’s #TechTalk has it all. Plus, why is broadband at the bottom of the class in Wales?
Despite 80% of people in the UK being aware of 4G, most are still unsure of its benefits over 3G. Is it just fast internet on your phone, or might it have other advantages too?
The telecoms regulator has ordered BT to reduce the fees it charges other providers for using its Openreach telephone lines. And, as a result, non-BT customers may benefit from a broadband price drop.
BT announces the matches it will show live exclusively on its new sports channels in the first three months of the season. Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal are all set to feature.
Today’s #TechTalk is all about confusion: Brits don’t understand 4G and parents are baffled by kids’ internet jargon. Everyone understands Angry Birds though - phew.
Superfast broadband must reach the UK's most rural areas sooner than planned if small businesses aren't to suffer, according to the Confederation of British Industry.
New superfast router has a built-in modem, meaning BT Infinity customers will no longer need two separate boxes to make their fibre optic broadband wireless.
Households and businesses in some of Scotland's most rural and sparsely populated areas will benefit from high-speed fibre optic broadband thanks to a £264million investment.
New section on Sky Sports for iPad app enables cricket fans to review every ball at the Ashes, BT announce a new wireless router just two months after launching its last one and more of today’s technology news.
Rio Ferdinand's achievements will be recognised in a tribute match between Manchester United and Sevilla at the Old Trafford ground in August - it will be shown live on BT Sport and available to stream.
Netflix gives the average user a 15% better movie streaming experience than it would have six months ago, as the rise of superfast broadband reinvents home entertainment.
broadbandchoices.co.uk rounds up today’s technology news headlines - Vodafone call charges rocket, Wimbledon scores on social media, Samsung Galaxy S4 Active UK release date and more…
A selection of apps for iPad and iPhone that normally cost up to £13.99 are available to download free of charge to celebrate five years since the launch of Apple's App Store.
People in the village of Croxton have become the first in the whole of Norfolk with access to fibre optic broadband delivered through BT's superfast network.
Auntie to abandon 3D broadcasts as hardly anybody is watching them, the best place in the UK for broadband revealed and more in broadbandchoices.co.uk's round-up of today's technology news headlines.
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