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90 days with StarHub's TV+ and here's what I think about the new service

By Ken Wong - 9 Jan 2021

OTT experience, StarHub TV+ app usage and value considerations

Being Android-based means you can install apps from the Googe Play Store easily.

On-demand should be on demand

As an Android-based box, you can install games and apps via Google's Play Store. I can't say I recommending this as a gaming platform though. The finicky remote isn't the best way to control things and performance issues we spoke of earlier, still, cause games to lag. 

As the image above shows, you are also able to install the apps for streaming services that StarHub supports. Familiar favourite Netflix is available, as are some from the new service like beIN SPORTS CONNECT. 

You can watch content from all of StarHub's on-demand channels easily. Performance may vary though.

From the Home menu, you can get access to OTT and on-demand channels and choose content from there without needing to go to the channel itself. I found this handy as it meant quicker access to the content I wanted and not needing to memorise another channel number.

But, what was it like using an OTT service?

In terms of video stuttering and jerkiness, I did notice it on some of the on-demand videos, but not all. So I guess it can be a hit or miss affair. For some videos, there was almost a slight "jump" effect similar to what you might encounter when yfaced with buffering issues. 

I’ve used Netflix on my laptop, my iPhone, streamed it to a TV via Chromecast, used it on my Apple TV box, and even used it on the normal StarHub TV box (thanks to the HomeHub Plus plan) and enjoyed it all. This time around accessing Netflix with the StarHub TV+ box I encountered connection error messages and dropped signals that spoilt the viewing experience. This just further proves that the choking point is the new StarHub TV+ box. And get this... the StarHub TV+ box is pegged at S$5 per month if you aren't signing up for at least a one-year commitment. We wouldn't mind if the box performs to meet usage expectations in 2020.

I should note that the StarHub TV+ box I used was connected via a wired connection and not relying on my own, scratch built, home Wi-Fi solution. So whatever I've experienced is nothing to do with wireless strength or connectivity issues.

 

What about the StarHub TV+ app experience?

Using the StarHub TV+ app on my iPad was fairly simple. I didn't try all the options as I wasn't provided with a sports pack subscription but the on-demand channels and content reflected what you'll get on the StarHub TV+ box well. So it seems StarHub managed to fix the multi-device channel availability issues from the previous incarnation and that's good news. Channel playback through the app also felt smoother than watching content on the big screen using the StarHub TV+ box.

On a side note, I've used the app in its previous confusing incarnation and was unable to access any of the content overseas (due to copyright and licensing issues) but wasn't even allowed to use a VPN to try to reach it from a Singapore based server. Given the current travel restrictions, we don't yet know if these restrictions persist on the new app, but given the reasons why it wasn't available previously, it's likely to hold true even now.

 

The channel swap and price comparison

As covered in our news of the launch of StarHub’s TV+ service and box, their channel options have also been reworked.

The new passes.

Unlike the Education, lifestyle, kids, and news etc packs of old, there are now only six TV+ passes with most people choosing two to three passes. Add-on packs range in cost from S$1 to S$24.90 per month.

Subscribers can also add-on fibre and Netflix for an additional S$49.90 (which then essentially makes it a HomeHub+ bundle plan, but more on this later). Prices can also vary depending on whether you choose to be locked into a contract or not. Possible breakdowns are as follows.

StarHub TV+ Passes on a 24-month contract (add S$10 for a 12-month contract, S$20 for no-contract) are priced as follows:-

  • Entertainment - S$30/ month
  • Asian+ - S$30/month
  • Sports+ - S$20/month
  • Malay+/Indian+/Filipino+ - S$15/month
    • *Note Indian+ on a 12- and a 24-month contract comes with access to Hotstar
  • Other add-ons are available as well

So technically speaking, a StarHub TV+ plan offering starts from as low as S$15/month, which is a fairly low asking price if its offerings fit your consumption needs. As part of the launch promotion, customers will get 12 months HBO Pak (U.P. S$13.98, no cancellation charge after the 12 months) and 12 months StarHub TV+ box free (U.P. S$5 with 12 months commitment). This promotion applies for both StarHub TV+ and HomeHub+ packages.

The HomeHub+ bundle package consideration

HomeHub+ Bundle two-year contract without promotional offer (S$64.90 with Malay+/Indian+/Filipino+, S$69.90 with Sports+, S$79.90 with Entertainment+/Asian+) comes with:-

  • 1 StarHub TV+ Pass
  • Superfast 1Gbps Fibre Broadband
  • StarHub Smart WiFi mesh router
  • Netflix (Standard account) – add S$4 to upgrade to Premium
  • Free 12 months HBO Pak and 12 months rental of StarHub TV+ box

If you're wondering how this bundle plan compared wth their previous hub plan before the StarHub TV+ service came along, here's how they stack up when distilled to their basics:-

Plan / Bundle Components HomeHub+ bundle (New) HomeHub
Plus (Old)
StarHub TV service 1 StarHub TV+ Pass 1 Entertainment Pass
StarHub Fibre service 1Gbps Broadband 1Gbps Broadband
OTT service Netflix Standard Plan Netflix Standard Plan
Price S$64.90 (for Malay+/Filipino+/Indian+)
S$69.90 (for Sports+)
S$79.90 (for Ent+/Asian+)
S$79.90

In essence, the new StarHub TV+ plan or HomeHub+ bundle lowers the entry point to StarHub's offerings if you prefer OTT options to serve your entertainment fix (like Netflix) and better utilise StarHub's offerings to solve the channel gaps that existing OTT options don't offer legally through the Singapore market.

For example, if you're a sports fan but would like to use Netflix or others for entertainment needs, you could take up the Sports+ package and not be tied up paying for other channel groups that you may not require (which previously, you had to mandatorily pay for the Entertainment Pass). Similarly, if you prefer StarHub's one-stop solution for Indian, Malay or Filipino language sector of offerings and marry it with OTT options, once again, the new StarHub TV+ or HomeHub+ bundle offer a decent pairing.

 

A glimmer of hope: Improved but still needs some work

The box has some nice features.

While we did have some issues with the new service, it’s not all doom and gloom.

The interface is improved over the last iteration and if the few quirks can be figured out, it’s definitely something worth using once the performance issues can be ironed out. Fortunately, the StarHub TV+ app usage experience is better and if you mostly intend to use mobile devices to consume content, you won't face the kind of performance issues we've noticed using the StarHub TV+ box. If you're thinking about bypassing the box and loading the StarHub TV+ app on to your Android TV however, that's not going to work for now.

And that is the key to it all - just pure performance of the StarHub TV+ box. Right now, from what I’ve seen during the usage over the past few weeks, I can’t say that I could recommend this to anyone younger than 35. The waiting would probably result in numerous TV+ boxes being thrown at walls in frustration.

But iron this out, and StarHub could have a convincing reason for someone to choose the StarHub TV+ platform wholeheartedly for one's home or mobile devices. Maybe the third time will be the charm?

Some issues mean that I'll be waiting for the next version, at least for my big screen home viewing needs.

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