TV streaming

[bspittles]

Now that the little one goes to bed properly and the big one has left home, Mrs B and I have some evening to ourselves

We'd like to start watching films but I'm a bit out of touch with the required technology. We currently have an iPad and an HD TV, although the TV doesn't have a wi-fi connection. What hardware we need to view a film on the TV via the iPad?

And in terms of packages, what are the best ones out there (I only know of Netflix and Now TV)? I'd like a broad range to choose from, older stuff, more recent releases and kids films too. We're not that fussed about watching TV series. We don't have either satellite or cable, so I guess it has to be internet-based.

I don't really want to spend a week setting something up, and I don't want to spend a great deal (in case we find we don't really enjoy it).

All comments gratefully received

[Moist von Lipwig]

You mentioned Now TV, that's a good one if you're intending to pay for the movie subscription.... £9.99 per month* and you get the sky movie library and the ability to watch the sky movie channels live, you can (I think) watch something live from the start.

* Offer codes pop up all the time, I've just bought a 2 month pass for £8. You can get boxes with 3 month passes for £15, then sell the duplicate box on ebay for a fiver or so. When a pass has finished (you have to cancel it before it finishes to prevent an auto subscription at full price) they sometimes send to an offer to stay on. I got 3 months for £1 per month last time.

The box has the advantage of being wireless and you can use Now tv on up to 4 devices, we have the now tv box upstairs and the living room runs off the ps4. You can also sideload plex onto it and stream digital stuff you already possess through the now tv box.

[crispybits]

You could also look at Roku boxes/sticks. You can get streaming services like Netflix/Hulu/Amazon Prime/Now TV through them plus more like Youtube and Plex (that MvL already mentioned is good for streaming media you already own from your PC if applicable).

Google Chromecast is similar, but I know a coupla people with it and they don't seem too impressed.

Have you looked at Apple TV? That would offer you a lot of extra options in terms of connecting with and transferring shows half way through between the TV and iPad but I'm hideously anti-Apple so I can't quite bring myself to recommend it nor do I know what other services like Netflix it actually offers...

[bspittles]

Just found out my Wii has Netflix and LoveFilm software, so that's sorted!

Many thanks for the responses