With 9Now, missing out on your favourite Channel Nine TV shows is a thing of the past.
Channel Nine has quite the history with catch-up TV. Back in 2010, it was the second commercial network in Australia to offer an online video-on-demand service with the launch of FIXPlay, a relatively basic streaming service for watching recent episodes of programming from channels Nine and GO!. In 2013, FIXPlay was merged with Nine's 9Jumpin app, an interactive television service intended to add social-networking features such as live voting and commenting to the TV-watching experience. Finally, in early 2016, Nine shuttered the 9Jumpin brand and launched 9Now, expanding the service to include live streamed TV and on-demand video for all channels under the Nine umbrella.
Like ABC iView, Plus7, TENPlay and SBS On Demand, 9Now lets you go back and watch the last few episodes of all of its featured programming whenever you want, perfect for those times when life gets in the way of your regular night's viewing. And since 9Now streams over the Internet, you can watch it wherever you have a solid network connection. Streaming the latest episode of Gotham on the train ride into work makes the morning commute a lot less boring.
What devices are compatible with 9Now?
Since 9Now streams over the Internet rather than through a traditional over-the-air broadcast, you can tune in through a wide range of Internet-enabled devices.
If you want to watch 9Now content on-the-go, you have two main options. For Apple users, the 9Now iOS app is supported by iPhones, iPods and iPads running iOS 8.0+, while for Android users, the 9Now Android app requires an Android phone or tablet running Android 4.4+.
Accessing 9Now on your computer is as simple as loading up the website with a supported browser. These include Google Chrome version 56+, Internet Explorer 11, Microsoft Edge version 14+, Mozilla Firefox version 51+ and Safari version 9+. You'll also need Microsoft Silverlight installed and JavaScript enabled.
9Now also has native apps for Telstra TV, Fetch, Google Chromecast, Apple TV 4, PlayStation 4 and select Sony Smart TVs. Older versions of Apple TV can also access 9Now through AirPlay. Support is also on its way for Samsung and LG Smart TVs, Xbox One and PlayStation 3.
Do I need to sign up for 9Now?
Unlike other catch-up services, 9Now requires you to register a Nine account in order to watch live and catch-up TV. Creating the account is free, as is watching everything on offer. Nine uses the data you provide to offer you personalised content recommendations and targeted ads based on your age and gender. Thankfully, you won't receive any marketing emails unless you opt-in for them.
How much data does 9Now use?
As with all streaming services, watching TV shows and movies through 9Now counts against your Internet plan's monthly data cap. Watching a 22-minute show such as The Big Bang Theory in Standard Definition (SD) will use approximately 300MB of data, while a 42-minute program like Major Crimes will use roughly 600MB. High Definition (HD) streaming ups this to approximately 500MB and 1GB respectively. It’s also worth mentioning that if you have a slow Internet connection, 9Now will stream your program at a lower quality and therefore consume less of your download limit.
For a smooth streaming experience on-the-go, Nine recommends a minimum 2GB mobile data plan with a 3G/4G-connected device.
What can I watch on 9Now?
All of Nine's channels are available to stream live on 9Now. GEM serves up general entertainment ("GEM" stands for General Entertainment and Movies), featuring shows like CSI, Friends and Gilmore Girls. GO! is skewed towards a more youthful audience, with comedies like Rick and Morty and The Big Bang Theory. Life focuses on reality and lifestyle programs such as House Hunters and Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Nine itself includes a variety of news and sports coverage in addition to bigger shows like the Lethal Weapon TV series.
In addition to watching the latest episodes of current TV shows, you can also catch up on some old favourites. For example, all 68 episodes of Sea Patrol are currently available for viewing. You can search for shows in your favourite genre (sport, comedy and travel are just a few of the options) or you can browse recently-added or soon-to-expire programs.
For catch-up TV, you’ll need to wait until a show has aired on TV before it appears on 9Now. Because some shows air a few hours later in different parts of the country, a good general rule is that an episode will be up by midday on the day following its airing. How long it'll stay available on the catch-up service varies from show to show, but you can find each episode's expiry date clearly listed below its description.
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