My5 - Channel 5

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I downloaded this app for the same reasons as everyone else I’m assuming... to watch on catch up. It’d be great if I could actually catch up but because of all the adverts and crashing that the app does, it’s takes an age to actually watch anything so any “catching up” doesn’t really get done. It defeats the object. This app doesn’t do what it’s supposed to do - it fails spectacularly at providing the one service it’s built to provide. I get that their revenue is made from advertising but holy moly, 7 minutes before the programme starts and then 7 more minutes of them 3 or 4 more times during, and then God forbid you have to pause it and come back to your chosen programme because, well then you’ll have to sit through some more adverts before you can scroll to where you left off (as there is no “continue watching” feature). And that’s if the app doesn’t crash on you before you manage to scroll. So in the boardroom at Channel 5, its almost like they get these reviews and their agenda goes something like 1) okay the app is still getting bad reviews... *all pull a sad face* 2) the laborious amount of adverts are bringing in loads of revenue though, that’s great isn’t it?! 3) shall we all go to the Shard for this years Xmas do? Yes great idea... 4) meeting adjourned till next month yeah?

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Yes it’s free and so except ads, but the amount and frequency of them is crazy annoying. While the app itself works fine, far no connection issues it’s frustrating. The most frustrating thing about this app is the adverts and that you have to sit through so many of them. Between 7-8 of them before you begin to watch your program then maybe every 5 minutes or so depending on the length of your chosen show, another 7-8 of them. Around 30 seconds each. And you can’t skip. Yes once again it’s a free app and so they gotta make money some how but surely they make enough through TV ad revenue 🤔? There is no continue to arching option so if you get half way through something and need to watch the rest later you then have to search for the correct program/episode and then sit through all the ads again before you can then scroll to where you were but then you will need to watch another lot ads. Maybe if you sign in or create an account you might be able to continue where you left off. I personally don’t want to sign up to yet another thing to end up with endless irrelevant emails.

So, to begin, the app itself is good, plenty to watch and catch up on, however, there is a few bugs. Number 1; the in app video player will from time to time (3 times at least in a single episode) put subtitles on without request, you then have to activate and deactivate them if you want to get rid of them. Number 2; 50% of the time when it cuts to an advert, you get a “video playback error” meaning you have to try and start the programme again, which is sometimes unsuccessful. Number 3; there is no “play next episode” feature, so to get the the next episode you have to go back the the programme page and find the episode you want. Number 4; there is no “carry on watching” feature, meaning that when you want to carry on a programme you paused midway to come back another time, you have to start a new search for the programme again and this can be time consuming when you just want to watch your favourite programme. Other than that, it’s pretty good, just needs an update fixing these issues!

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I can see small improvements over time like you are trying but still, by comparison to other free similar apps you fall short and I’m not sure why? You must get more income than any others as you repeatedly play they same adverts over and over, one cannot halt watching a programme without having to go, for the most back to the beginning, it is very antiquated by comparison, you have some good shows but so often half way through an error comes up. Is it that you refuse to hire staff equipped with the knowledge or do not invest the money your advertisers pay to get your system up to date or inline with basic functions other tv apps provide. It really is the worst tv app, still. I’m not sure why due to the revenue you must accrue, lining pockets it would seem. I do not frequent this app due to the fact that despite its attempts to improve it moves little in the forward direction. Why when the others are so good?

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We live in 2019. Yet for some reason channel 5 don’t posses the skill to make a useable app. Something interesting comes on ITV player and within less that a minute the program is playing. You sign into channel 5 via your google account and it takes you to google. This is exactly what I wanted. I wanted to catch up on a crime program and and after 10 minutes waiting for my google account to load I have arrived at the google web page. No return back to the app after log in. No bother, let’s set up an account on the my 5 app. Half an hour into this and my account is set up, I have had to ask some additional questions in my set up such as my favourite brand of toothpaste and and the last time I blinked but all is good. Program is up and I press the play button. App crashes and takes me to my phones home screen. I would of gave it a minus start rating but that’s not possible so I gave it one out of five stars.