Watching TV via mobile data: how MB's does it cost?

Amount of data of watching TV

As a rule of thumb, you can assume you’ll need 1 GB for every 60 minutes of viewing. Do you want to know how much data it costs to watch 1 hour of TV? And how long can you watch TV with 1 GB? Below there's a clear overview per type of program. In general, keep in mind about 1 GB per hour.

How do you stream on the go?

All you need to stream your favorite movie or series wherever you want is your smartphone, a streaming app of your choice, and a good amount of data. You can use Simyo’s data bundles throughout the EU, which makes it super convenient to stream on the go.

Examples? Your TV provider’s app, for instance. KPN, for example, has the ‘TV app,’ which lets you watch live television and rewatch programs afterward. This app is free to use if you have KPN TV at home. Then, of course, there are streaming services like Videoland, Netflix, and Prime Video. For these, you can take out a monthly subscription and stream movies and series on demand. Streaming apps work both via Wi-Fi and mobile internet.

How many data does watching TV through streaming apps use?

Watching television through a streaming app is done through an internet connection, such as your mobile data. Because there are different types of data bundles, we figured out for you how much data it usually takes to watch certain kinds of programs. Note: these are our own results, and the data usage on your device or with your streaming app may vary.

How many data does streaming the news use?

Do you like to stay up to date with the latest news, preferably wherever you are? Then you’re probably wondering how much data it costs to watch the news on your phone. The 8 p.m. broadcast by NOS lasts about half an hour. If you stream it live, this will cost you around 500 MB. Watching the afternoon news? Those broadcasts usually take about ten minutes, which will cost you roughly 175 MB from your Sim Only data bundle.

How much data does streaming a sports match use?

We recommend a large data bundle if you're often streaming sports matches. Let's say you're streaming a Formula 1 race or soccer match, how much data would that cost you?

Streaming an hour and a half will use at least 1.5 GB of data. If you also watch the pregame or postgame analysis, you’re easily looking at two hours, so make sure to check how much data you have left before you start watching.

How much data does streaming a Netflix series use?

You can choose Netflix’s streaming quality yourself: automatic, data saver, or maximum data.

• The default setting is automatic, which uses about 250 MB per hour. So, for a 40-minute episode, you’ll use around 170 MB.
• The data saver setting uses about 170 MB per hour. That means you have 6 hours of viewing per GB, or about 120 MB per 40-minute episode.
• With maximum data, you get the best picture quality, but you’ll use around 1 GB per 20 minutes, depending on your device and internet speed. To be safe, you can also set the app to stream only via Wi-Fi.

With Netflix and other streaming services, it’s smarter to download videos beforehand using Wi-Fi. It takes a bit more planning, but can save you a lot of data. Netflix also includes a feature called ‘Smart Downloads,’ which automatically downloads the next episode of the series you’re watching.

How much data does it cost to stream a movie?

Streaming a movie on Netflix uses about 400 MB of data. That’s based on a movie of around an hour and a half, streamed at standard (automatic) quality. Are you watching a movie through your TV provider’s streaming app? Then you can count on using at least 1 GB per hour. Tip: stop streaming during commercials. That saves you data you'd otherwise waste.

Streaming economically

It’s understandable if you’re surprised by the amount of data you need to watch TV via mobile data. Luckily, there are a few tips and settings that can help you reduce your data usage.

Save movies and series offline

With Netflix and many other streaming apps, you can save movies and series offline. Ideal, right? That way, you can use these streaming apps offline too. Download the programs you want to watch ahead of time via Wi-Fi, and then play them back without using data or experiencing interruptions.

Use Wi-Fi whenever possible

Is there Wi-Fi available where you want to stream? Try to use that network first (as long as it's safe). This way, your Sim Only data bundle won’t be used up, and you can save your data for other things. Many campsites, hotels, and apartments offer a Wi-Fi connection.

Lower the video quality

If you're trying to limit the amount of data it costs to stream, you should adjust the automatic video quality. For example, you’ll use much less data if you don’t play videos in HD. Sure, the picture won’t be quite as sharp, but you’ll still be able to watch comfortably, while saving data.

Get the right data bundle for your streaming habits

As you can see, watching TV via mobile internet can use up quite some of your data. That’s why we recommend streaming only if you have a large data bundle, preferably 10 GB or more. Otherwise, your bundle might run out faster than you expect.

In the Mijn Simyo app or on Mijn Simyo , you can easily change your Sim Only data bundle or check your usage. We’ll send you a text message when you’ve used 80 percent of your data bundle, so you won’t be surprised when you've fully run out of data.