The streaming TV market has heated up: Vivo launches this Monday (18) the Vivo Play App, an IPTV platform that gives access to up to 70 paid channels per application, without the need for cables, antennas or decoders. The IPTV service must compete with Claro Top Streaming, Guigo TV and DirecTV Go.
The arrival of the Vivo Play App was already expected: the technoblog released in February 2022 some screenshots from Vivo’s website that mentioned the IPTV service. The operator did not submit any placements at the time, but immediately removed the mentions from its service store.
Vivo Play App has two plans, but no Globo channels
Vivo markets two Vivo Play App plans: Inicial, with 30 channels, and Extended, with 70 stations. Monthly prices are R$29.90 and R$49.90, respectively, and the operator allows customers to use the same login for up to 10 devices, with a maximum of three simultaneous transmissions.
Everything looks good so far, but there are some downsides. The first one is that the contracting of the Vivo Play App is restricted to mobile telephony customers with a control or postpaid plan. This keeps users away from other operators, who use only Vivo Fibra broadband or have a prepaid package, for example.
The other downside is that none of the Vivo Play App plans include Globo channels, such as SporTV, Globonews, Multishow, GNT, among others. These stations are available on the operator’s conventional pay-TV service, but not on pure streaming packages.
Anyone who wants to watch the Globo group stations or other linear channels needs to appeal to other services, since the Vivo Play App does not allow the contracting of additional packages. In my opinion, it would be more convenient to have the option to include extras and gather everything in a single app; those who want to watch GNT, for example, will have to subscribe to Globoplay + live channels and change apps.
The complete list of channels for the Vivo Play App plans is available at the end of this post.
Vivo Play does not need a TV Box and is on smart TVs
One of the great advantages of Vivo Play is the wide availability of the application. You can watch streaming on your phone, computer and tablet, in addition to Apple TV, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and smart TVs from Samsung (Tizen 2.4 or higher) and LG (webOS 3.0 or higher).
It’s much better than Claro, which doesn’t make the NOW app available for smart TVs and requires the customer to watch it on their cell phone or direct the display to a Chromecast. The operator also has Claro Box TV, a version that requires a connected box and costs R$ 79.90 in the plan with linear channels.
Is it worth subscribing to the Vivo Play App?
Vivo Play App prices are inviting and the range of supported devices is great. However, I consider it a great shot in the foot to restrict sales only to Vivo cellular customers with a postpaid or control plan.
It would be much better if Vivo Play allowed online subscription for any customer and payment via credit card, like almost every streaming service. The operator would attract many pay TV customers from other operators that use Claro, TIM or Oi cell phones.
Vivo Play would be even more interesting if it allowed the inclusion of additional ones, such as Canals Globo, HBO, Telecine or Premiere. Leaving content decentralized in several apps compromises the user experience, in addition to decreasing the feeling of loyalty to the operator’s service.
Alternatives to the Vivo Play App
The Vivo Play App is not the only legitimate streaming TV option with pay channels.
A clear has Claro Top Streaming, which costs R$ 59.90 per month and gives access to more than 100 channels, including Globo Channels. The downside is that the subscription is only available to carrier customers. In addition, the content is streamed through the NOW app, which is not available for smart TVs. Anyone who wants to watch television with a better experience should opt for Claro Box TV, with a monthly price of R$ 89.90 in the Top HD package.
Another option is the DirecTV Go, which does not depend on any cellular or broadband plan. The price of the monthly plan is R$79.90 and the subscription gives access to more than 70 channels. It is possible to hire optional content, such as Telecine, HBO and Premiere.
Lesser known, the Guigo TV It is also an alternative for those who want to watch TV over the internet. Prices start at R$20.90, and the app is available for smartphones, tablets and smart TVs.
Vivo Play App channel list
| Initial Plan BRL 29.90 per month |
Extended Plan BRL 49.90 per month |
|---|---|
| Discovery Channel HD History HD Nat Geo HD ESPN Extra HD ESPN HD ESPN 2 HD ESPN 3 HD A&E HD AXN HD FX HD Prime Box Brasil HD Sony HD Space HD Star HD Warner HD TNT HD Discovery Kids HD Disney Channel HD Cartoon Network HD CNN Brasil HD Bandnews HD Art 1 HD Chef TV weather Discovery Home&Health HD E! HD FashionTV HD Fish TV HD MTV HD Travel Box Brazil HD |
Animal Planet HD Discovery Channel HD Discovery Science HD Discovery Theater HD History HD History 2 HD Nat Geo HD Bandsports HD Discovery Turbo HD SPN Extra HD ESPN HD ESPN 2 HD ESPN 3 HD ESPN 4 HD Fox Sports 2 HD Cinemax HD TNT HD A&E HD AXN HD FX HD Paramount Network HD Prime Box Brasil HD Sony HD Space HD Star HD TCM TNT Séries HD Warner HD TNT HD Cartoonito HD Discovery Kids HD Disney Channel HD Cartoon Network HD Disney Channel HD Nick Jr. HD Nickelodeon HD Tooncast TV Ra Tim Bum HD DW Rai Italy SIC International phone TV5Monde TVE CNN Brasil HD Bandnews HD BBC World News Bloomberg HD CNN International Art 1 HD Chef TV Cinecanal weather Comedy Cewntral HD Discovery Home&Health HD Discovery World HD E! HD FashionTV HD Fish TV HD Food Network HD HGTV HD ID HD Lifetime HD MTV HD MTV Live Flavor & Art TBS HD trace brazuca Travel Box Brazil HD truTV HD Woohoo |