Bad news for TalkTalk TV customers – as the company is scrapping two of its most prominent features.
Starting this month, you’ll no longer be able to add NOW streaming packages to your TalkTalk bill, following their quiet removal of Netflix billing integration last month.
And while losing the convenience of a single bill is annoying enough, the bigger blow is that this also means the end of TalkTalk’s discounted streaming deals – where you could often get NOW’s packages (and the ad-removing NOW Boost) for less than their regular price.
The £5/month cost is staying around, though – giving you access to TalkTalk’s Android YouView box – but without those streaming discounts, TalkTalk TV is starting to look a lot less appealing than before.
TalkTalk’s TV Journey
TalkTalk has been on quite a journey with its TV offerings these past few years. Back in late 2021, they launched their 4K TV Box with Netgem, combining traditional Freeview channels with streaming apps.
On top of the payment for the box itself, TalkTalk offered its customers the option to add Sky’s NOW (formerly NOW TV) memberships – Entertainment (TV channels like Sky Atlantic) for £9.99/month, Sky Cinema for £9.99/month and Sky Sports for £34.99/month – but those were often discounted.
For £4/month (which later went up to £5), for the box and the service, it was decent value, especially when you could add discounted NOW memberships.
December 2021 saw TalkTalk roll out Netflix billing integration too – though those savings were pretty modest at just £1.04/month for bundling Netflix with your broadband package.
Then in 2022, things got more complex when TalkTalk brought out their Android TV Hub – but only for Full Fibre customers at first.
This new box, running on YouView instead of Freeview, packed some nice features like Google Assistant and Chromecast built-in, plus access to thousands of apps from the Google Play Store, and Freeview channels (as long as you connect an aerial and have decent reception).
In December 2023, they simplified things by dropping the Netgem Freeview box completely (for new customers), making the Android TV Hub their only TV option.
Through all of this, TalkTalk’s biggest TV draw was probably their discounted NOW packages. You could sometimes get Entertainment, Cinema, and Sports memberships cheaper than going direct, and they’d often throw in NOW Boost (which kills the ads and adds Full HD) at no extra cost.
What’s Changing NOW?
TalkTalk has now withdrawn both their NOW and Netflix “add to bill” options, as spotted by ISPReview. Netflix integration disappeared quietly last month, and the NOW billing integration is being phased out for new customers starting this month.
If you’re currently paying for NOW through TalkTalk and enjoying discounted rates (including the NOW Boost at no extra cost), don’t panic just yet – existing customers can keep their current setup for now.
However, TalkTalk has made it clear that this arrangement will also be discontinued in the coming months.
Meanwhile, TalkTalk’s TV service continues to cost £5/month, but what you’re actually getting for your money has changed quite a bit.
In essence, you’re now just renting their Android TV-based YouView box (similar to Virgin Media’s Stream device, which now costs £5/month as well) – so you’re getting a platform that is already available on most Smart TVs
It’s worth noting that while you can’t add these streaming services to your TalkTalk bill anymore, the apps themselves still work perfectly fine on TalkTalk’s TV box – you’ll just need to subscribe to them directly through NOW and Netflix.
A TalkTalk spokesperson said: “We regularly change the offers available to our customers.
“We do not currently have any NOW or Netflix deals available with TalkTalk TV, but customers can continue to access these streaming services through their TalkTalk TV device.”
Is TalkTalk TV Still Worth It?
At £5/month, what you’re getting is a decent Android TV box that supports YouView, comes with Chromecast built-in, and gives you access to over 70 live TV channels (assuming you’ve got an aerial connection).
However, without the discounted streaming bundles that made TalkTalk TV particularly attractive, you might want to do some calculations. Remember – since it’s a rental, you’ll need to return the box if you stop paying the monthly fee.
If you’re currently getting NOW or Netflix through TalkTalk, keep an eye on your emails – you’ll want to be prepared for when these arrangements eventually come to an end.