Millions of Hisense TV and set-top box owners will finally be able to access Sky’s library of content available on Now TV, thanks to an urgently-needed upgrade.
The Now TV app, as well as several other streaming services, was previously inaccessible to Hisense TV owners – except for those with a Hisense Roku TV set-top box.
But the latest firmware upgrade means Hisense’s most recent TVs can download the Now TV app directly and access its entire catalogue of movies, TV series and sports coverage. Bear in mind though, users will still need to pay for a Now TV subscription to view the content.
The update is being rolled out to all of Hisense’s 2022 and 2023 TVs and devices, including its flagship Mini-LED TVs, the UXK, U8K, U7K and U6K TVs.
Anyone who owns a 2022 or 2023 Hisense TV can now download the Now TV app by getting the latest upgrade. To do this, head to the TV’s settings menu > device preferences > about > system update > install latest update.
Besides landing on Hisense’s TVs, the Now TV app is also available on the company’s excellent Laser TV range of projectors, which are a popular choice for those who prefer a much bigger screen for their home cinema and gaming experiences.
If you’re unfamiliar with Now TV, it’s a streaming service similar to Netflix, Disney+ or Amazon Prime that offers a wealth of on-demand content as well as live broadcasts. It’s owned by Sky, and its content library clearly reflects that.
Subscriptions to Now TV work on a “pass” system, with users required to pay for passes to access different content through the service. For instance, the Cinema Membership costs £9.99 a month and provides access to all current Sky Cinema content and more than 1,000 on-demand films. The Entertainment Membership pass also costs £9.99 a month, and provides users with access to 24 live Sky channels, including six kids’ channels, and all of the on-demand content they offer.
Now TVs’ sports coverage works a bit differently though, and the Day Membership option that provides viewers with 24 hours’ access to all 11 Sky Sports channels may seem a bit pricey at £11.99, but the Month Membership is certainly more affordable, at £33.99 for 30 days. There’s also a Mobile Membership package, which costs £9.99 and allows access to five Sky Sports channels only - Premier League, Action, Arena, Racing and News – on Android and iOS phones.
Users can also purchase add-ons to enhance the quality of their Now TV video streams.
The real strength of Now TVs’ offering is that it provides access to content that can only be found on Sky Q, Sky Glass and Sky Stream. In particular, its sports library is unmatched, and particularly appealing for Premier League football and F1 racing fans. In addition, Sky’s deal with HBO means Now TV is the only place in the U.K. to watch hits like The Sopranos and Game of Thrones.
The Cinema Membership may also appeal to movie buffs, considering that Sky Cinema tends to get a lot of early movie premieres ahead of other streaming services.
Hisense’s head of marketing Arun Bhatoye said the partnership with Now TV “signifies our commitment to offering an expansive range of entertainment choices to our customers.”
However, some cynics will say that the update is long overdue, as Hisense’s TVs have been criticised in the past for their lack of support for some of the biggest U.K. streaming services, including the Apple TV and ITVX app.
For instance, a new Hisense customer posted on X, formerly Twitter, in May that “We've just bought a Hisense Vidaa TV and now learn that we can't use Now TV app. Is this going to be addressed soon, or should we return the TV and buy something else?”.
Although there’s still now way to view Apple TV on Hisense’s TVs, the addition of Now TV is a big step in the right direction, and a welcome boost in the run up to Christmas.
