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Review by Tom Wortley - 12 October 2007
I like TopupTV! Ok it dosen't have as many channels as the other providers but I use it as a second system to my Sky. The only downside I have found is that some of the content they download is duplicated, so you think your getting a new episode of somethings and find it's the one you watched a few weeks ago. Apart from that I love it.
Tom Wortley's rating:

Top Up TV

WHAT IS TOP UP TV ANYTIME?

Top Up TV began life in March 2004, but since November 2006 has undergone some radical changes. It was originally conceived as a Freeview service which would offer at least 10 extra live channels for a monthly subscription. This is no longer the case. The new service, and the only one available to new customers, is called Top Up TV Anytime. It gives you all the delights of Freeview broadcasting, but with the additional offering of a DTR (a Digital Television Recorder) which presents you with over 100 hours of recorded content from premium subscription channels for you to view as and when you wish. This is a subscription service, not like the on-demand where you pay as you go. This Top Up TV+ box also offers the same capabilities as the V-box, namely being able to pause and rewind even live shows. Unlike BT Vision however, this service is available to all and sundry, and not only BT broadband customers.

PROGRAMMES, GLORIOUS PROGRAMMES

Now, in addition to the basic Freeview package of extra channels, you will have a specially selected library of programming, which will stop and start at your say-so. This content is refreshed daily so you will always have something new to watch. Programmes come from channels such as UKTV Gold, Paramount, Discovery and MTV. You can choose which channels to receive programmes from, and in fact the more personal selections you make, the less generic programming you receive and the more space you'll have on the 160 GB hard disk for all your own choices. (If Giga Bytes don't mean much to you, then let us put you in the picture. 160 of the Giga Byte things is a lot.)

There are additional packages that you can subscribe to at will. For example if you're hot on movies then you may want to look into the "PictureBox" promotion. For an extra £5 per month, you will have access to one of any 7 movies at a given time. That said, it's worth noting that one of the channels from which the Anytime services takes it's programming is indeed TCM, the respected, classic movies channel.

If you can't get enough of sporting action, then you may want to invest another £9.99 per month in a subscription to Setanta Sports, which shows all Barclays Premiership League matches and the US PGA golfing events. However, in order to access this service you will need an extra set-top box, which doesn't come cheap, at £39.99.

TOP UP TV + BOX

The set top box that you will receive not only stores the library of Anytime content but also serves as a recorder for whatever you may choose to record from the live Freeview channels. It has the advantage of twin tuners, so you'll be able to record and watch programmes live, all at the same time. Additionally, as with the V-box, you'll be able to pause, rewind and playback live TV. These are really useful features, but by no means limited to Top Up's product.

HOW DO I GET A PIECE OF THE ACTION?

Obviously, in order to enjoy this service, you must be within the Freeview catchment area. This covers 73% of the country, and to check the availability in your area, go to http://www.dtg.org.uk/consumer/coverage.html If you eligible, then you can order the service online without even picking up the phone.

Let's talk money. The prices of the Top Up TV Anytime service are significantly higher for new customers. That is, if you didn't previously subscribe to Top Up TV, you'll be paying £139.99 in start up costs and a further £9.99 every month. If you already have Top Up TV in your home, but are looking to take advantage of the Anytime service, then the Top Up TV + Box will cost you £75 or £120 if you're willing to take on a 12 month contract.

IS TOP UP TV FOR ME?

The selling point of the Top Up service is now the library of recorded content chosen by the Top Up programmers. If you think your televisual tastes are a little more alternative, and not likely to be catered for with "the most popular programmes" then this is not the service for you. Its daily library of content is relatively weak on news and sports, so if these are your main interests, Top Up TV does not offer you anything particularly special.

However, the technology that you receive with this particular set-top-box is excellent. That could be said to justify the high start up costs. If you want to be able to control exactly when you watch your television, but are not a BT subscriber, this could be a decent alternative to the BT Vision service.