BT confirms YouView launch this autumn

BT has confirmed that it will begin offering the YouView TV service in the autumn.

The telco is one of seven launch partners for YouView, the UK’s connected TV service that launched earlier this month. It said the service would appeal to customers “looking for the next evolution of the Freeview service” but did not reveal details of how it would bundle YouView with its broadband and telephony products.

BT has also announced that it is to offer its BT Vision Essential TV package for free to customers signing up to its TV, broadband and calls package. The package normally costs £17 (€21) per month, but the price is being reduced to £13 for a limited time, with the £4 per month Vision Essentials element offered for free.

The deal will boost BT Vision subscriber numbers, which stood at 728,000 at the end of June after the telco added 21,000 subs during the second quarter.

BT Vision Essential gives customers up to 50 Freeview television channels and lets them pause, record and rewind live TV. Customers can catch up with the last seven days’ TV from BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 and may also, on a pay for view-basis, watch thousands of TV shows and music.

Alex Green, TV commercial and product director, BT Vision, said: “BT Vision is the fastest-growing digital TV service in the UK because it gives viewers exactly what they want: great TV, film and sport when it’s convenient for them to watch. We’re delighted to offer it free for a limited period so that even more people can see what they’ve been missing.”