Galaxus TV and I

Galaxus is the Swiss Amazon, or at least one option. I first came across when I was buying tech toys via Digitec. They then bought Galaxus, and then Migros bought them.

They provide an opportunity to buy Raspberry Pi, Continental GP 5000 tires, Apple iPhones, Merkur razors and much more. One of the great things about this online shop is that it interfaces with plenty of other shops and it provides you with an estimate for when things will be delivered. In so doing it is a convenient, and intuitive to buy stuff we do and do not need.

Over the past year they have been diversifying their offer to include mobile telephony, fixed line internet access and most recently, Galaxus TV. It is built around Zattoo’s tech. Zattoo is a web streaming service that offers TV programs that are broadcast via satellite to be accessed without the installation of a dish. This is good for people living in apartments where installing a dish is less intuitive.

Where it differs from Swisscom TV and other service providers is that it offers you the option of recording up to 1000 programs, with no scheduling limit like EPGs used to have via satellite. This means that you can set a series link for The Simpsons, Frasier, and Grand Designs.

The other advantage, and this is where it is great, compared to Swisscom TV, is that for 11 CHF per month you have access to these channels, and because you can record TV without paying 23 CHF per month (the last time I checked) you can browse the Electronic Program Guide (EPG) and find programs you want to watch, set them to record, and the next day watch them at your convenience, and skip ads.

With Galaxus TV I am tempted to cancel my netflix subscription and rely on Freeview once again. Years ago I was very happy with satellite TV. It’s only because of student accommodation, or living in an apartment that I moved to Netflix and other options.

With this, when the Tour De France is on, I can watch it.

You can add all the British, French channels from France, ARTE and Swiss French channels to quickly find content in languages that you understand. I’m especially happy to have MoreFour and other Four channels.

Now when Attenborough, or British presenters mention their new shows, I can once again watch them with ease.

There is one little drawback. Programs remain for a week, before being made unavailable, so if you set something to record, it’s good to watch it within a day or two, and it’s good not to allow your back log to become too deep.

I don’t want to spend my days catching up. I just want an hour or two of content, that I can watch in the evening.

And Finally

With Galaxus TV, I once again get good access to European made content with ease. Netflix has more and more international content but at this moment in time I am quite happy to suspend payments to US based companies, in favour of those based anywhere else in the world. If I can support a Swiss company, rather than a US one. I am happy. I haven’t cancelled Netflix yet, but Galaxus fills that content niche quite nicely.

It also makes choosing content much easier. Watch it within a week or wait until they broadcast repeats.