Archive How to Put Parental Controls on NOW TV
Baby standing in front of a TV showing sports

Setting up Parental Controls on NOW TV

Mohammad

Mohammad

Table of contents:

    Streaming services have exposed families to a sea of content and they’re proud of this. Each streaming service has its own programs, deals, and Christmas offers. But in the end, almost all of them offer various programs with different age ratings.

    NOW offers a streaming service that includes Sky programs alongside other deals. It also offers broadband. In both cases, the deals are tempting to many customers, especially people who are also parents. So as a parent, before you sign up for these offers, you might want to know how to put parental controls on NOW TV. Read on to find out.

     

    What is NOW TV?

    NOW is a streaming service, previously known as NOW TV. The service is owned by the Sky group and includes almost all the programs broadcast from Sky channels. As a streaming service, it allows you to watch movies and TV shows on your favorite device. NOW has both an Android and an iOS app.

    The main difference between NOW and other streaming services is that it doesn’t need you to commit to it. The service has all sorts of membership options, such as an Entertainment Membership, Cinema Membership, Sports Membership, and more. There’s a 7-day free trial, and you can cancel anytime.

     

    Do I Need Parental Controls on NOW TV?

    NOW’s programs are diverse and some of them aren’t appropriate for your child. But what your child sees on NOW TV depends not only on the streaming service’s programs but also on your membership. For example, your child probably won’t come across any erotic scenes if you have a Sports Membership, though they might see violent scenes in some sports.

    There are two methods for how to put parental controls on NOW TV. One is the Parental PIN and the other is Broadband Buddy.

     

    NOW TV Parental PIN

    When you add a new membership to your NOW TV subscription, you’ll be shown your PIN. There’ll also be an option to change your PIN if you want. This PIN is part of NOW’s parental controls since the service will ask you for it at certain times.

    For example, even if you haven’t set up age restrictions, depending on the movie or TV show you’re watching, and the device you’re using, you might be asked to provide the PIN. Keep in mind that the live Sky Cinema and Entertainment channels are PIN-mandatory whether you have age restrictions or not.

    You can also set up age restrictions. To set up age restrictions, follow these steps:

    1. Go to “Settings & PINs”
    2. Under the “Age Restrictions” section, select “Change”
    3. Choose between the age ratings provided and select “Save Changes”

    When you set up an age restriction, it applies to all live channels, not just Sky Cinema and Entertainment. It also applies to on-demand movies and shows.

     

    Image of an ethernet cable being plugged into a wireless router

     

    NOW TV Broadband Parental Controls

    NOW also has a broadband plan for interested customers. In fact, it has three different plans available, each different in their average speed and yet completely unlimited. The service also allows you to choose between No Contract if you don’t want to make a commitment or a 12-month subscription, which makes things cheaper.

    If you have NOW broadband, you also have access to new options for parental control. First, you have to set an age rating as follows:

    1. Go to Broadband Buddy Settings
    2. Choose the age rating you think is appropriate

    This table shows you what websites each age isn’t able to watch on NOW.

     

    Table of NOW's age categories for broadband restrictions

     

    You can also make exceptions in age rating. For example, you might want to block a website that NOW allows for your child’s age, or allow access to a website that NOW has blocked. To block/unblock specific categories:

    1. Go to Broadband Buddy Settings > “Custom”
    2. Block or unblock each category separately
    3. Save your changes

    You can also block or make exceptions about specific websites as follows:

    1. Go to Broadband Buddy Settings > “Block & allow websites”
    2. Enter the website address in the “Blocked” or “Allowed” box
    3. Select “Add” and save your changes

    Keep in mind that when you add a website’s address in this case, it overrides NOW’s categorical restriction set when you define your child’s age.

    NOW Broadband Buddy has another feature called Grown up browsing time. This feature allows you to set specific times of day when the age rating will automatically change to 18 and back again to its default when the time’s over. To turn on this feature take the following steps:

    1. Go to Broadband Buddy Settings
    2. Select “Turn on” under “Grown up browsing time”
    3. Set the start and end times

     

    Using Parental Control Apps for Managing Your Child

    To keep your child safe online, you might think that blocking websites, even entire categories might not be enough. Using the right parental control app can help make things easier. For example, when you use Safes, you have access to many features such as:

    • Determine specific inappropriate keywords so websites containing them can’t be searched
    • Block web categories and set exceptions
    • Instantly block your child’s streaming apps if you want their attention focused elsewhere

    To learn more about Safes’ features, sign up for a free trial now. Also, we’d be happy to answer if you have any questions.

     

    Frequently Asked Questions About How to Put Parental Controls on NOW TV

    We’ve compiled a list of questions and answers to help provide more information on the topic we discussed. If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d be happy to help!

     

    Q: Can I set different age ratings on NOW Broadband Buddy for each of my children, or on each of my devices?

    No. The age rating you choose for NOW Broadband will be used to monitor all websites on every device connected. Your NOW Broadband only has one account. However, if you want to have some time when websites aren’t blocked, you can turn on the “Grown up browsing time” feature.

     

    Q: Do blocked websites stay blocked when I use NOW Broadband Buddy’s Grown up browsing time?

    Yes. The “Grown up browsing time feature” only allows access to websites that were categorically blocked because of the age rating you chose for your broadband. If you block certain websites by their address directly, they won’t be unblocked in “Grown up browsing time.”

     

    Q: How can I change my NOW Broadband Parental PIN?

    To change your broadband’s Parental PIN, follow these steps:

    1. Sign in to “My Account”
    2. Select “Manage Account” > “Settings & PINs”
    3. Under “Parental PIN,” select “Change”
    4. Enter your current PIN, and then your new PIN

    If you’ve forgotten your Parental PIN when trying to change it, select “Forgotten Your PIN?”. A one-time code will be sent to your email. Enter the code and then change your PIN.

     

    Q: How do Xbox and PlayStation parental controls affect NOW Parental PIN?

    In the case of Xbox, the parental controls of the console override the Parental PIN on NOW TV. So, if you have any problems with your Xbox One or Series X/S when watching movies or shows, check out Xbox’s help page. On the PS4 and PS5, the parental controls you set won’t affect NOW’s parental controls and what you view. So, make sure to check out NOW parental controls settings as well.

    Mohammad

    Mohammad

    At auctor lacus fusce enim id tempor etiam amet. Et consequat amet eu nulla nunc est massa dui consequat. Facilisi adipiscing nec condimentum sit laoreet non turpis aenean in. Aliquam cursus elementum mollis sed accumsan nisl ullamcorper in.

    Want to know more about digital parenting?

    Our newsletter is your go-to source for staying updated with the latest information on parenting and online child safety. Subscribe to our once a week must have tips, to simplify parenting in the digital age. Read the editor’s top pick of the week to ensure a safe online experience for your child.

    More from Our Blog

    A smiling girl writing in a notebook with a laptop in front of her.
    Is your kid having a hard time concentrating on school? Use these 5 smart ways to help your child focus on their studies without getting distracted. 
    Atena

    Atena

    The Benefits & Challenges of Boundary-Based Discipline Parenting
    In this article, we will explore the benefits of boundary-based discipline parenting and provide practical tips for implementing this approach effectively.
    Safes Content Team

    Safes Content Team

    Schoolgirl with grumpy face holds books stack
    Does your child keep getting distracted when studying? Read our blog to find out about the 12 most important ways to help them focus on studying.
    Tannaz

    Tannaz

    image of a father who is trying to control the use of social media from his son
    Ever since the need for the Internet became common, even among children, parenting has become more challenging than it used to be. Children and teenagers are easily attracted to social media, video games, and other apps, which might adversely affect their physical and mental health if misused. For this reason, parents are concerned about protecting their children from inappropriate and violent content. This article will explain “how to control your child’s social media access.” 
    AlirezaS

    AlirezaS

    Get Weekly Parenting Must-Knows in Your Inbox

    Deepen your parenting knowledge with our tips and tricks. Receive our editor’s top picks in your inbox once a week—no spam guaranteed.

    Download Safes Kids for Chrombook

    1. Install the Safes Kids app on your Chromebook from Google Play. 
    2. Pair Safes Kids with parent app. Follow the instructions in the app to pair your child’s device with your parent device.  
    3. Add the Safe Kids Chrome extension. Open Chrome and go to the Chrome Web Store. 
    4. Navigate to the Manage extensions page. Click the three dots in the top right corner of Chrome and select “Extensions”>”Manage Extensions”>”Details”
    5. Turn on “Allow in incognito mode” This will allow the Safe Kids extension to work in incognito mode, which is important if your child uses incognito mode to try to bypass the parental controls.
    6. Select Safes extension and follow on-screen instruction

    Download Safes Kids for Android

    Download the Android Kid’s app directly to get the full features!

    Download Safes Kids App on Play Store

    Download Safes Kids App on Safes.so

    Safe Kids is available on the Google Play Store, but if you download it directly from our website, you will get access to Call and SMS monitoring feature, You can monitor the phone calls of your child’s device, as well as the contacts and messages they have sent and received, including those containing inappropriate content.