There’s no denying that Now TV is a fantastic service to have on hand, but sometimes it does fall victim to streaming issues and can be a real pain when you’re trying to watch your favorite programs. It is a pay-as-you-go service that allows you to only pay for what you want to use, which makes it stand out from much of the competition.
Have you been experiencing issues? We’re assuming you have, otherwise, you wouldn’t be here! So strap in and join us as we take a look at the Now TV streaming quality issues, causes, and fixes.
Plans and Compatibility
Before we go any further, it’s important to understand the many factors that could be the cause of the streaming issues we’re having. If the image on your television looks anything like the one in the picture above, you’re going to want to pay close attention to this next section.
Now TV’s streaming service runs at a standard 720p. This is obviously not the highest possible standard and can often result in soft edges and colors that are not as vibrant as they could be. If you wish to get 1080p quality, you can pay a little more to obtain the Now TV Boost.
You should be able to watch and stream your shows on up to three televisions at once, and also stream your favorite sports at a respectable 50fps. This also works well with the other passes on offer; Entertainment, Cinema, and Kids.
You can also take full advantage of your chosen pass by watching your shows through the TV, a laptop or console, even a mobile phone! This is great news for everyone, although it can affect the quality of the shows you’re watching, depending on the device you’re trying to watch them on. Some of the older tech men only are capable of 720p streaming, and although there are certain set-top boxes and sticks that may provide the Now TV service, there are a number of non-compatible devices (below).
Smart TVs – Panasonic, Samsung Serif Range, Sony, Toshiba
Laptops – Chromebook
Mobile Phones – Windows Phone, Kindle Fire Tablets
Games Consoles – Nintendo Wii (or older consoles)
Both Mac, PC, and all older products will also be incompatible with 1080p streaming, and will only work with 720p. Below is a list of products that do not support 1080p streaming.
Smart TVs – EETV, Apple TV
Chromecast – 1st & 2nd Gen
Mobile Phones – Android & iOS smartphones and tablets
Games Consoles – Xbox One, PS3
A significant factor in your Now TV viewing experience is your internet speeds! This fact is often overlooked and can lead people to believe it’s an issue with their set-top box or stick when it’s actually an issue with their poor internet.
Fix #1 – Restart the App
Perhaps the most simple and obvious fix that most people will try first is to simply restart the app. Before you do this, however, you can try to restart the actual show by backing out of it, then selecting it again to load it back up. If this does not work, simply close the entire Now TV app, wait a few seconds, then restart it. Note: You can also try uninstalling and reinstalling the app.
Fix #2 – Check your Internet
So your Now TV is still experiencing issues. Next up, you should check your internet connection. As mention before, having good internet is vital to have good streaming quality. Even an intermittent internet connection is enough to cause you issues.
You can check your internet speeds in seconds online through a quick Google search, and the minimum speed you need to be looking for is 2.5 Mbp, assuming you’re using a broadband connection (preferable). If you’re using data, 3G or 4G or 5G, you need to look for a minimum of 450 Kbps. And less than that, and you’re going to have a bad time.
It’s even easier to check the issue if you’re new to Now TV, simply head on over to Technical Checks and enter your details to see if there are any issues affecting your local networks.
Fix #3 – Move the Hub
This fix is incredibly easy and shouldn’t even need any explaining. Essentially, moving your WiFi hub to a location free of interference is vital to maintaining a strong internet connection throughout your house. You can even move your Now TV box closer to your WiFi hub, if using one, to strengthen the connection.
Fix #4 – Limit your Internet Usage
Did you know that the more devices you have connected to your WiFi hub, the slower it will run overall? Seems obvious really, but the more devices that are sapping the signal from your broadband box limit the speeds of everything as a whole. Try putting that phone or laptop down, and see if it doesn’t improve your Now TV streaming issues.
Fix #5 – Perform a Hard reset
Sometimes the issue will stem from the device itself. This can happen for a number of reasons, but thankfully it is relatively easy to fix. To perform a hard reset on your Now TV box or Stick (this does not apply if you’re using the app on a Smart TV, computer, or phone), complete the following steps.
- Go to settings, then system
- Go to Advanced system settings. You should now the the above image
- Select Factory reset at the top of the list
- Enter the four digit code on the screen. In this example, you would have to enter 0550
You will then be prompted to set up your device once again, once it has performed the hard reset, but this is easy and does not take long at all.
Fix #6 – Manage Data Settings
If you’re still having issues, there is one last thing you can try. This is to manage your data settings and will require the use of your remote. To change your settings/bitrate, follow the steps below. It may seem a little strange, but follow the steps precisely and you’ll be where you need to be.
- Press your Home button five times
- Press your Rewind button three times
- Press your Fast Forward button twice
- You should now see the bitrate options. Select Automatic
Causes and Fixes Overview
Hopefully by the time you’ve reached this section you have successfully managed to fix your Now TV streaming issues. It can be frustrating, but it’s important to remember that you’re not alone, and it’s actually a fairly common issue. If the problem persists, consider contacting their technical support helpline. You may need a new box or stick.
