My Experience with Pik TV

[arasa]

I just subscribed to Telus Pik TV a few days and would like to share my experience so far. I haven't received the Android box yet but so far noticed some of the limitations of the service:

1-Your order the service and they are very quick activating it (no option for choosing future activation date)  but it can take up to 5 business days until you receive the Android Box and start taking advantage of the service.

2- The only other option to use the service is via the app on your phone or tablets. I am not a fan of watching shows on my phone nor own a tablet. However, every now then I do catch up with shows on my laptop. So far I could not find the option to watch shows on my laptop. With other traditional subscriptions you can watch your shows on demand either using the app (which by the way support airplay) or via browser on your computer (which takes you to log in to your provider for verification).

3- The on demand library seems to take sometime to update with latest shows, I need to verify this item.

4- your subscriptions to Crave TV is not accessible via your browser or Crave TV app.

I have been a loyal Telus customer for many many years and was very excited about this service when I heard about it but it's limitations and cons left me with a sour taste. I acknowledge that this service is very new and some of these shortcoming may or could be addressed in the near future or in long term.

a. Will Telus address some of these issues in the future and what is the timing for it?

b. What is the reason for some of the limitations of the service?

c.Why doesn't Telus provide browser base access to the service for people to catch up with shows on their laptops and other devices?

d.Why has Telus prohibited the Airplay option on the app so we have a better user experience?

It is worth mentioning that other services including Telus Optic, Channels apps including HBO provide these options to the subscribers with no restrictions. I don't think it's fair blaming Bell or other service providers as they have no objections in you accessing their contents as long as you maintain subscriptions to their services.

Please let me know your thoughts and share your experiences. 

[Nighthawk · Accepted solution]

Pik TV is not designed as a replacement for Optik. It's mainly for cord cutters that want some TV for a lower cost and fewer bells and whistles. I've added a bunch of apps to my Pik box so it suits my needs well. I can stream downloaded content from my network storage as well.

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1. Boxes have to be shipped if ordered online or by phone, unless you bought the Pik TV box from a local store.

2. Pik doesn't have a web version that I've ever found. Yet.

3. On Demand on the Pik app is a bit sparse so far. Hopefully that'll improve with time. Among other apps, Netflix and Kodi are supported on Pik TV, as is DAZN if you like NFL.

4. The limitation on Crave was mentioned some time ago here on the forums. Crave / Bell refuses to make an Android TV version of their app. People have been asking for some time and it would make sense to make one with all the Android TV boxes out there. I have a full Crave subscription and use my phone to watch content.

a. Telus will have to answer that. 

b. It's not a replacement for Optik. If you want a more fully featured TV experience, Optik is where you need to be.

c. Browser access? That is typically a limitation from the broadcasters themselves. Bell blocks browser access to Telus Satellite subscribers as well. There are still channels you can watch content online for free but not all.

d. See C. It's also the same reason why Optik can't be cast to TVs from mobile devices. Bell allows AirPlay from some of their apps like Crave or TMN Go (HBO) since they control them directly, and they can harvest your analytics data directly.