MagentaTV (formerly Telekom Entertain, T-Home Entertain and Entertain TV) is Deutsche Telekom’s television service, which enables access to hundreds of television channels, streaming services and pay TV offers via the Internet.
MagentaTV is much more than “just television”. At least that’s what the service says itself. “MagentaTV combines classic linear television with numerous HD channels, media libraries, video libraries and streaming services on one platform. No other TV offer offers such a wide variety of content and such easy operation,” says Telekom’s website. Subscribers can choose from up to 300 TV channels, more than 100 HD channels and a video-on-demand mega library with thousands of series, films, shows and documentaries.
So far, so impressive, one might think. But how exactly does MagentaTV work and how much does it cost?
All features are only available with a Telekom connection
First of all, I like that you don’t necessarily need a Telekom landline connection to access MagentaTV. But it is also clear that the offer and service are more convenient for Telekom fixed-line customers. For example, with time-shift television and the option of recording programs using the hard disk recorder integrated in the media receiver. Anyone who is already a Telekom customer can receive MagentaTV via the MagentaTV Box or the MagentaTV Box Play. Reception is also possible via other media receivers.
However, the IPTV offer (Internet Protocol Television) advertised by Telekom requires a MagentaTV box or a Telekom Internet connection. IPTV is a service offered over a closed network, in which films and television programs are transmitted over the Internet. Thanks to the (guaranteed) bandwidth, a particularly stable and high-quality television experience is possible, whether via WLAN or LAN cable.
Non-Telekom customers can use the service on the TV set via HDMI connection. The MagentaTV stick is not absolutely necessary for this, but it also allows reception when traveling and abroad. The MagentaTV app can also be used with the Amazon Fire TV stick, with Google Chromecast, Apple TV and via smartphone or tablet, but more on that later. In addition, the content can also be accessed via PC or laptop via the web browser at web.magentatv.de.
Also read: All about Vodafone’s GigaTV
A great pleasure, but not exactly cheap
You can imagine that such a wide range has its price. If you want to enjoy MagentaTV with all theoretically available content, with pay TV extensions and all service functions, you have to book the complete offer with a Telekom connection (including landline telephony, Internet flat rate). In return, you get access to about twice as many standard channels and can combine the booked MagentaTV subscription with Sky, Netflix and Disney+.
Available subscriptions at MagentaTV
The following subscriptions, all of which have a minimum contract period of 24 months, are offered: MagentaTV Basic, Smart, Entertain (with Disney +) or MagentaTV Netflix. All four offers are currently 19.95 euros per month for the first six months. It gets significantly more expensive from the seventh month: Basic then costs EUR 44.95, Smart EUR 49.95, Entertain EUR 51.95 from the seventh month and EUR 54.95 from the 13th month. And for the top subscription including Netflix, Telekom charges 49.95 euros from the seventh month and even 59.95 euros from the 13th month.
These prices refer to the “Internet Flat M” offer with a maximum download speed of 50 Mbit/s and a maximum upload speed of 2.4 Mbit/s. If you want more performance and choose the L (100 Mbit/s) or XL (250 Mbit/s) packages, you pay five or ten euros more per month. For example, the MagentaTV Netflix tariff results in monthly costs of 74.95 euros from the 13th month.
Also read: TV over the Internet – IPTV offers in comparison
Cheaper per app, but the offer is limited
If you don’t want to commit yourself for two years, i.e. don’t choose a Telekom connection, you can also access the service via the MagentaTV app. Here, the notice period is only one month, and the prices are also significantly more socially acceptable – with a limited supply, however.
The monthly price is 10 euros for MagentaTV Flex, the smart package also costs 10 euros a month at the beginning, but 12 euros from the seventh month and 15 euros from the 13th month. For MagentaTV Netflix, Telekom charges 5 euros per month, from the 13th month the price increases to 20 euros.
By the way: “App” doesn’t mean that you can only access MagentaTV from your smartphone or tablet. The XXL television experience in the living room at home is of course also possible. Depending on the TV manufacturer, the MagentaTV app can also be installed on the smart TV. If the TV set is not equipped for this, a streaming stick is the solution. This can then, but does not have to be, the MagentaTV Stick. The Amazon Fire TV stick, Google Chromecast and now even Apple TV make the offer on the television possible.