Clubcard TV: Tesco launches rival to Netflix, Lovefilm and Now TV
Clubcard TV, a new TV and film streaming service, has been launched by Tesco. But is it any good?
Tesco has launched Clubcard TV, a streaming TV and film service available to all Clubcard members. And it doesn’t cost a penny.
Clubcard TV has been put together with blinkbox, a film streaming service which Tesco bought back in 2011.
So how does it work?
What you need for Clubcard TV
First up, you need a Clubcard as you have to hand over your number to register for the service. Given Clubcard is free and only takes a couple of minutes to sign up for, it’s not the worst hoop to jump through!
After that all you need is a computer and internet access. You can connect your computer to your TV so you can watch the films on your telly, but you can’t stream through games consoles like the PS3, Xbox or Wii as you can with other streaming services, though this is apparently coming later.
The TV and film selection
The big question of course is whether there’s anything on there that you’d want to watch. And it’s fair to say the selection of TV shows and films on Clubcard TV at the moment is a little patchy.
TV shows include The Only Way Is Essex, Supersize vs Superskinny and Doc Martin. It’s perhaps telling that at the moment the most popular shows on there are for kids: Batman: The Animated Series, The Mask: The Animated Series, Flash Gordon and Care Bears are all on the most-watched list.
The film selection isn’t much better. The most recent film I could find on there was Journey to Promethea from 2010 (a film with a score of a whopping 2.8 out of 10 on IMDB). Beyond that there’s plenty from 2007, including Nancy Drew and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, and the odd classic like The Shawshank Redemption.
But it’s slim pickings.
You’ll also have to put up with occasional ads, based on your shopping habits.
Interestingly, the free films selection has disappeared from blinkbox, suggesting the two services may merge at some point.
A soft launch
It’s worth bearing in mind that Clubcard TV is only in its Beta stage of development, so while we can take advantage now, it’s far from the finished product.
As a result I’m not going to be too harsh on Clubcard TV just yet. After all it is free, unlike its main streaming rivals, though in fairness they are only around a fiver a month each and offer a far more enticing viewing selection. They are also available for viewing in more formats, whether through a games console or in some cases on your smartphone or tablet.
So there’s a long way to go before Clubcard TV can truly rival Netflix, Lovefilm or Now TV. Check out The cheapest way to watch films for a comprehensive guide to the different services and how they compare.
More from Lovemoney
The cheapest way to watch films
How to cut the cost of your cinema tickets
Watch free movies legally online
Sky launches new catch-up TV service
Sky TV more important than life insurance
Most Recent
Comments
-
Amazing how an article about a media streaming service ends up back at horsemeat. I might actually give this service a go. After all, if it is free, then it is not costing me anything to try, and who knows, they may actually increase the content as it becomes more popular.
REPORT This comment has been reported. -
"easygoing said Perhaps if they paid more attention to their supermarkets we wouldn't have the horse meat fiasco." They may be involved in what's happening in the market, but I wouldn't be so sure they were actually behind that one. Supply & demand - if the demand is for cheap c**p, people will supply it. Not that I have a problem with horse - no worse than the camel, goat, rabbit or kangaroo I have in the freezer at the moment.
REPORT This comment has been reported. -
It seems Tesco can't make up its mind what it wants to be. Mobile phone & broadband supplier? Media streaming?Banking, Part time purveyors of food. Perhaps if they paid more attention to their supermarkets we wouldn't have the horse meat fiasco.
REPORT This comment has been reported.
Do you want to comment on this article? You need to be signed in for this feature
15 March 2013