Subscribing to Crave TV is the only way for us Canadians to watch Game Of Thrones legally. Anyone here has the app and what has been your experience with it? The reviews I found were mostly negative.
Is Crave TV worth it?
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I have it and it's ok at best. The content, aside from the HBO stuff, is kinda lacking. The app is not great usability wise. My beefs have been that it doesn't automatically queue up episodes in a series to play - when one is over, you have to manually select the next one. That and subtitles need to be turned on manually each time.
It doesn't have enough to convince me to subscribe. Not with Netflix already jacking up their price.
When they did the whole service revamp with HBO not long ago they had a 50% discount for 3 months so I subscribed to try it out. I mainly watch on an AppleTV and an iPad.
I think it's worth it for the content. Due to some (very unfortunate) exclusivity deals, it's the only place you'll be able to legally stream some recent movies and TV shows in Canada. Content from HBO, of course, but also from Showtime and Starz.
The streaming quality is currently "acceptable" at best. It's barely HD, and the compression is not the best. Don't go in expecting Netflix-like quality, but it's watchable. I really hope they'll improve this aspect with time.
I think it's worth it for the content. Due to some (very unfortunate) exclusivity deals, it's the only place you'll be able to legally stream some recent movies and TV shows in Canada. Content from HBO, of course, but also from Showtime and Starz.
The streaming quality is currently "acceptable" at best. It's barely HD, and the compression is not the best. Don't go in expecting Netflix-like quality, but it's watchable. I really hope they'll improve this aspect with time.
Rogers is gonna regret giving up on Shomi so quickly in the long run. Especially when Hulu inevitably shows up in Canada.
When Hulu shows up, I really wonder what kind of content they'll be able to get. The exclusivity deals Bell made for Crave will still exist, so it will really limit the amount of stuff Hulu would have.
Many heavy hitters like, for example, The Handmaid's Tale will most probably stay exclusive to Crave.
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I got a 3 month free trial through air miles that I'm currently using. Not a lot of content, but what's there is often high quality. I think it would be better with access to the new HBO stuff, but for $20/month plus $10/month for Netflix I doubt I'll subscribe
Yeap, same feedback from me as well. Buffering is better since they moved to the new app, I'm guessing they changed the backend as well.
I have only seen the new app, but I didn't run into any buffering problem. Except for the barely ok streaming quality and some missing features, the app is alright. Let's hope it improves over time.
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The picture quality is so bad that it makes me miss the days of SD television.
I pray they get their shit together because their content is great but I can't mess with the service in its current state.
I pray they get their shit together because their content is great but I can't mess with the service in its current state.
Yeah, I was considering it a while ago but the additional premium for new HBO content and it only being in 720p is a deal killer
I like the live on air portion. You get to browse a few live channels and just let it run. its a feature that i hope netflix embraces.
My friend is going to give me her password so that I can watch Letterkenny. Instead of borrowing the DVDs from the library.
My parents probably could get Crave, because they subscribed to The Movie Network and it's now Crave on TV. But they've never been given a login.
My parents probably could get Crave, because they subscribed to The Movie Network and it's now Crave on TV. But they've never been given a login.
Crave improved the quality of their stream quite a bit since the beginning of the year. On some devices, you can now stream 1080p. Here's what they say in their FAQ:
I've been watching Crave regularly on an Apple TV 4K and on an iPad, and I can really say the picture quality is much better than when this thread was created back in January. Still far from Netflix-like quality, but very enjoyable nonetheless.
They seem to be actually trying to improve the service. Really not sure we'll see 4K anytime soon, but they are on the right path I think.
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If you really plan on watching a lot of the archived HBO and Showtime content then yeah, the basic subscription can be worth it. The additional $10 for access to current HBO offerings is bullshit though. That and the fact that they put access to movies behind that additional $10 now too. I watched a couple movies on Crave in January, and then early February found out I couldn't anymore. I was so pissed I cancelled my subscription
Now I regret it because I'm missing out on Desus and Mero's new show. Fuck Bell
Now I regret it because I'm missing out on Desus and Mero's new show. Fuck Bell
Yes, it's there. You need a Crave subscription ($9.99) + the Movies/HBO add-on (another $9.99).
Chromecast is listed in the list of supported devices. I don't have any experience with it though, so I have no idea how well the Crave app runs on a Chromecast.
https://www.crave.ca/devices
https://www.macrumors.com/2019/03/21/apple-cable-bundles-streaming-service/
I really wonder how this new service from Apple will look like once it reaches Canada due to the strict exclusivity deals Crave (Bell) has with many companies. Pretty sure HBO, Showtime, and Starz (and probably more) will not be offered by Apple in Canada...
I really wonder how this new service from Apple will look like once it reaches Canada due to the strict exclusivity deals Crave (Bell) has with many companies. Pretty sure HBO, Showtime, and Starz (and probably more) will not be offered by Apple in Canada...
You can be quite certain that the packages will be region-specific.
Currently using it on a 50% promo for 3 months, which ends at the end of March for me.
It's ok, though the backend of it is pretty terrible. For whatever reason, the sync between watching it in browser, app, and Apple TV is out of whack and doesn't sync up 100%. I'll save stuff to my list on the browser, but it won't show up on my Apple TV, etc. The UI is an afterthought.
Also, I was watching some stuff from Starz, but they signed some deal where it's in another tier now? I'll not be renewing after this month is up that's for sure.
I'll just buy the season pass for GOT from iTunes. It will be cheaper than paying monthly for Crave.
It's ok, though the backend of it is pretty terrible. For whatever reason, the sync between watching it in browser, app, and Apple TV is out of whack and doesn't sync up 100%. I'll save stuff to my list on the browser, but it won't show up on my Apple TV, etc. The UI is an afterthought.
Also, I was watching some stuff from Starz, but they signed some deal where it's in another tier now? I'll not be renewing after this month is up that's for sure.
I'll just buy the season pass for GOT from iTunes. It will be cheaper than paying monthly for Crave.
OP
OP
Don't you have to wait until the season is done airing before the season pass is available?
Honestly, I can't remember with 100% accuracy, but I'm fairly certain I watched season 7 as it came out via iTunes - unless I'm imagining things.... Either way is fine, I'd rather watch them all at once anyways.
Bell and Rogers were giving it for free upwards to 12 months.
I received 12 mths free from Bell.
For most shows, the season pass is available when the first episode airs and you just get them as they go. HBO programming has operated much differently, as do some other programs, where none of the show is available on iTunes until some time after the season is completed. It really depends on the agreement that's made with Apple. In HBO's case, they want you to pay for HBO instead, so they delay release on iTunes and other similar services until after the season is over.
I'll keep my Crave subscription for the duration of GoT for sure. I'll evaluate what I do afterwards.
Still 720p, and still just stereo sound. It's honestly terrible. But I don't think I can watch GoT any other way. Or can I buy it on Google Play (or somewhere else) and get the episodes as they come out?
As long as you dont mind sub HD quality, no HDR, no surround sound and a very, very subpar app ecosystem, then its great.
I don't know about watching on desktop through their website, but I know 1080p is available on iOS, Apple TV, smart TVs (Samsung), and Fire TV.
Good question about Google Play. I'd rather just buy them and get them that way. But probably not being released till after airing.
