TalkTalk TV Review
There are so many ways to watch TV, and the multitude of different subscription services can be overwhelming at times. But, TalkTalk TV has offered up a simple set-top box that effectively turns your TV into a smart TV.
You can watch, pause, and rewind live TV, you have access to more channels, and you can add subscriptions to customise your experience further. Furthermore, this is all at a lower price point than competitors like Sky or BT.
Here we’ll have a look at what TalkTalk TV offers users and if it’s a good fit for you.
TalkTalk TV pros and cons
Upgrades a TV to a smart TV
Competitive price point
Discreet box which fits nicely into an entertainment setup
Ability to bundle Netflix and NOW TV among others
No option to record TV as default
No access to Apple TV or Disney Plus
The interface does suffer from a bit of latency
What is TalkTalk TV?
The TalkTalk 4K TV Box offers a budget-friendly way to access Netgem TV services and on-demand services like NOW TV and Netflix on the same bill. It’s available on TalkTalk TV Fibre Broadband plans at an additional monthly cost of £5.
TalkTalk also offers access to over 70 channels and various on-demand players via its Netgem TV interface.
The box, which simply plugs into your TV, offers a quick and uncomplicated way to browse and watch various content from one single place. TalkTalk TV customers will receive all they need to get started, including a 4K Netgem TV box, remote, and connection wires.
Also available is its own mobile app with an integrated planner (TV guide), with the option to catch up on the last seven days of programs. The content included as part of a subscription 70+ Freeview channels (with nearly 20HD channels), then an additional 100+ channels not available on free-to-air TV, and of course, everything offered on NOW TV, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Rakuten TV, BritBox TV, and TNT Sports (subscription costs not included though).
TalkTalk TV Netgem 4K box
Overview
Previously TalkTalk offered a fairly standard YouView box for its TV services, but this TalkTalk TV 4K box is powered by Netgem. As suggested this box plays any 4K content assuming your TV is 4K ready.
Unfortunately, there is no default recording option. However, with the catch-up function, you can view anything you missed anyway (this is only available for the previous seven days though). If you really want to record live TV, you can purchase a USB Stick that could then be configured to record missed programs as you would on other services. This is something that would have been nice to do without needing a memory stick, but as mentioned the catch-up services do help.
You can still pause and rewind live TV. If you want to rewind live TV, you must turn on ‘time shift mode’ (by tapping the rewind or pause button) and from here you can watch ‘live TV’ however you want without missing a moment.
The setup is very straightforward. All that is required is the TalkTalk TV box, its remote and a Wi-Fi connection. You connect your external aerial to the box and connect that box to your TV via HDMI link it up to your Wi-Fi and you are good to go. To use any pre-existing on-demand memberships like Amazon Prime you will have to log in again with the set-top box.
Features
Features
You can view live TV in HD or 4K if you have a TV capable of reaching that resolution. Your set-top box also features a universal search function that is compatible with Alexa, allowing users to easily find their favourite shows with voice commands via Alexa or Amazon Echo. A little setup is needed but it works fine. It’s a helpful way to use the search function a bit quicker as the interface and remote sometimes have noticeable lag.
Remote
Remote
The remote that comes with your box is an easy-to-use, sturdy handheld. It offers quick access buttons to Netflix and Freeview play as well as the home screen. The remote feel quality and the button have a satisfying click but there is still a bit short delay between button presses and cursor movement that is noticeable. It also comes with batteries included.
Storage
Storage
The TalkTalk TV box does support PVR (Personal Video Recording), however, to make use of this, an external storage device would be required. This is a bit of a miss, but to keep production costs low for an affordable price point it is fair and the catch-up function does help.
Specifications
Audio/Video specifications
Resolution: 4K@60fps, (UHD 3840x2160)
HDR10
Dolby Digital+, Dolby ATMOS Passthrough
3D Graphics: Open GL ES 3.0
HDMI 2.0 (UHD) with CEC & ARC
S/PDIF Digital audio out
USB 2.0 Type A
Infrared Remote receiver
Bluetooth for voice remote
External power supply 200-240V AC
Dimensions 128x128x38mm
What can I watch on TalkTalk TV?
You can watch both Freeview TV and on-demand TV. In order to do this you will need to connect your Netgem box to both an external aerial and your internet connection. The external aerial is required for Freeview, all app and on-demand services, that will run from an internet connection.
Some require a subscription, as you would expect, but you can take advantage of a number of free apps included with the TalkTalk TV box. These include ITV Hub, BBC iPlayer, All4 and even YouTube and TikTok. These all come pre-installed so all you’ll have to do as a user is sign up and sign in.
Being powered by Netgem, you’ll have access to some ‘extra channels’ featured on Netgem TV. It doesn’t offer anything ground-breaking, but some entertainment, cooking, news, and over 30 various sports channels are available to browse.
TalkTalk offers users the ability to increase the number of available channels, by offering various bundles of channels to their package, some for an additional monthly cost. Here are a few.
Netflix on TalkTalk TV
Still the ‘Top Dog’ of streaming apps, Netflix offers a massive range of TV, from international dramas, Hollywood blockbusters, comedy classics, family films, and the most impressive range of originals, like Breaking Bad, Ozark, Stranger Things, The Crown, and many more. A monthly subscription is still required though.
Amazon Prime on TalkTalk TV
Amazon Prime Video requires a subscription unless you have Amazon Prime for deliveries. Here, you can find Amazon Originals like The Rings of Power, The Boys, Fleabag, and lots of movies- even new releases.
BBC iPlayer on TalkTalk TV
Thousands of shows from the BBC, including some live sports, documentaries, news, and movies, not to mention the many hidden classics from the BBC’s vast library of programs.
ITV Hub on TalkTalk TV
The ideal place to catch up on the TV shows you’ve missed and watch boxsets, including some of the best British dramas.
All4 on TalkTalk TV
Channel 4 and E4 are very popular channels in the UK. All4 offers a great catch-up and on-demand streaming service for fans of reality shows, comedies, and documentaries.
TalkTalk TV Apps
There is a TalkTalk TV companion app available on the App Store or the Google Play Store, and it has some useful functionality. It offers some on-the-go viewing, TV planners/guides, and quick access to settings.
- Download TalkTalk TV app
- On your set-top box go to settings
- Select the link to the app
- You’ll be given a passcode or a QR code
- Follow the link to connect
- Confirm details and continue to link the App to the box.
This is a handy companion app to have as you can have up to four devices connected, meaning you can watch on a different device throughout your home, be it a smartphone or tablet. The guide on the box does run a bit slow, so sometimes using the app and casting to your TV or using it to browse through menus feels a bit quicker and easier. However, it is worth mentioning that the app does suffer from connection problems and various minor bugs.
TalkTalk NOW TV Memberships
NOW TV memberships are an additional way for users to access premium content from Sky including Sky Atlantic, Sky Sports and the many Sky Movie channels. These can be added in various bundles to your TalkTalk account.
NOW TV Sky Sports on TalkTalk TV
Powered by NOW TV, this add-on gives you access to all 11 Sky Sports Channels, where you can watch Premier League matches, feel the speed of F1, or enjoy golf, rugby, NFL, boxing, and more. You can choose a monthly membership that will continuously renew until cancelled, or you can go for a 24-hour pass for a one-off payment. Perfect for it if you want to watch a specific live event but don’t want the commitment.
NOW TV Entertainment on TalkTalk TV
Adding NOW TV Entertainment gives you access to premium channels like Sky Atlantic, Sky One, Comedy Central, Sky Sci-Fi, and Sky Arts. Not only does it offer live TV, but you can also view boxsets of your favourites on-demand like Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, and Succession.
NOW TV Cinema on TalkTalk TV
This is for movie lovers. From golden oldies to the newest Hollywood blockbusters, NOW TV cinema library of over 1000 movies and counting will have you reaching for the popcorn all winter long. With seasonally inspired additions, Rom Cons, action, horror, comedy, indie and thriller, being updated regularly, you’ll never be stuck for a movie to watch.
TalkTalk TV Guide
Using the TalkTalk TV guide is user-friendly. On the remote control, press the guide button to open up the TV guide. As with most TV guides, this displays all the channels available to watch. Using the cursor keys on your remote you can scroll through your channels, see a synopsis of programs, set reminders for upcoming shows, or check the details of previously missed events.
TalkTalk TV Catch-up
TalkTalk TV catch-up does exactly as you’d expect. If you missed your favourite shows, you can catch up using the platform. All you do is search for what you missed and then you can replay it, but only if it’s finished within the last seven days as there is no internal storage in this little box.
Using the home screen on your remote to open the user interface, move to the search bar and enter what you are trying to find, once you find your program, you will be taken to one of the various on-demand services via the TalkTalk TV platform. From here you can watch or rewatch whatever you want.
It’s from this home page that you access everything the TalkTalk TV channels have to offer. By sliding the tab across the top of the screen you skip between live TV, Cinema highlight, extra channels (provided by Netgem TV), and My TalkTalk TV, which highlights your recent choices and likes, and finds your chosen on-demand platforms.
Is TalkTalk TV any good?
Streaming services have become so popular that it can be hard to choose which ones to subscribe to. Thankfully, we don’t have to sign lengthy contracts and we can bundle assorted services together, so choosing a service can come down to one thing that appeals to you over another option.
So let's recap - what is appealing about TalkTalk TV?
It is a nice-looking small digital box.
It connects to an external aerial and your wifi.
You have access to multiple on-demand services on its user interface, which makes for easy browsing. However, much of this can be found on a smart TV.
But is it good?
The better question is, ‘Is it worth an HDMI port?’ There are a lot of channels with the box, even without any add-ons, but the majority of them are very niche and many people wouldn’t have heard of them. The interface is clean and easy on the eyes, and while it can be a bit slow and unresponsive, it serves its purpose without excelling.
On the downside the Netgem TalkTalk TV box does not offer multiroom options, it doesn’t have any internal storage to record TV and as of, yet Apple TV+ and Disney+ are not available on the platform.
TalkTalk TV is a good way to access various on-demand services and streaming services, if you bundle memberships you also have a good amount of customisation that you can change and cancel as and when you please, giving you the freedom to experiment with different services if you wished or just stick with what you know.
The price is good, and the set-top box is discreet. Does it offer much more than a good smart TV? A little. Does it compare to a Sky Q box? No, and I can probably think of a few better uses for an HDMI port in my TV.
Browse deals from TalkTalk
See our range of TalkTalk broadband deals on Uswitch.
