BT to launch video on demand service, Monday

A Freeview-supporting set-top-box (STB) supplied by BT, can be hooked up to BT broadband to allow for the streaming of video-on-demand (VOD), without any monthly charge or contract.

Instead, users will only pay for the VOD streaming services they choose to watch.

The STB will be manufactured by Philips and will run software from Microsoft. It will also allow digital video recording of up to 80 hours on its integrated hard disk, allowing it to act as a personal-video-recorder (PVR).

It's likely that the majority of downloadable video on offer will consist of catch-up television, allowing users to view missed programmes from the week's TV.

However, viewers will have to wait until the new year for the ability to watch catch-up television VOD services from the likes of the BBC and ITV, as presently no contractual agreements are in place with the TV organisations.

NTL and HomeChoice already offer catch-up television services for the BBC, with ITV yet to launch.

Channel 4 shows should be available from Vision's launch, with BT announcing the deal earlier this month. Not only will the previous eight days listings be available for download, but various titles from the Channel 4 back catalogue will be actively pushed, including Shameless, Queer As Folk, Jamie's School Dinners and Father Ted.

Channel 4 offers a similar internet-based service for anyone to use, without the need for an STB and BT. BT seems to be copying this channel of delivery with a BT Vision download service offered here - something that seems to be broken at the time of going to press.

BT also lists many other high profile companies as partners in VOD delivery, including MTV, Paramount Comedy, National Geographic Channel, Nickelodeon UK, History Channel, Universal Pictures, NBC, and DreamWorks.

EMAP, Warner Music Group, Sony BMG and Video Performance Ltd are listed as providing music videos and music related services.

A major boon for BT in May this year, involved the winning of the rights to carry 242 'near-live' FA Premier League football matches per season. A three-year deal covers the 2007-8, 2008-9 and 2009-10 seasons. BT acquired the rights in a joint bid with BSkyB, who will presumably be offering a similar service over Easynet-based Sky Broadband, or the newly named Sky Anytime service - previously called Sky by Broadband.

BT has made various murmurings about television services over the last ten years, it will be interesting to see what's finally been delivered by the bungling British telecommunications behemoth. µ

L'Inqs
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