BT in talks with Netflix over enabling 4K

BT is in discussions with Netflix about enabling the SVoD service’s 4K content on its latest-generation, Ultra HD-compatible YouView box.

Speaking to DTVE, Jamie Hindhaugh, chief operations officer, BT Sport, confirmed the discussions and said that BT had 4K aspirations that go beyond its recently launched, IP-delivered BT Sport Ultra HD channel.

Hindhaugh said that the operator has already experimented producing sports-themed content in 4K – such as the documentary One Day in May: The Story of The Bradford City Fire.

He explained that by using the “halo effect” of a large-audience Premier League game, BT will start scheduling docs and other content captured in 4K off the back of that.

“Across our wider portfolio, obviously movies will be of interest as more people capture in native 4K. We are in discussions with Netflix about enabling their 4K content to our box,” said Hindhaugh. However, he added there was no timeframe yet for when that content might be available.

The YouView platform, which BT uses for its pay TV offering, added the Netflix app to its set-top boxes last November. BT currently offers this app under the ‘Players & Apps’ section of the YouView menu, though does not yet support the 4K content from Netflix.

BT launched Europe’s first live sports Ultra HD channel in August as part of a new Entertainment Ultra HD package. Priced at £15 (€20) per month, the package includes the BT Sport Ultra HD channel, BT’s full Sport Pack in both SD and HD, 47 Premium channels including 13 in HD, up to 80 Freeview channels and catch-up TV from services like the BBC’s iPlayer.

The Ultra HD package is available on BT’s new UHD-compatible Humax T4000 YouView box, which includes a 1TB hard drive that enables storage of 600 hours in SD or 250 hours in HD.

Read more in ‘The Big Picture’, DTVE’s 4K feature in our August/September issue, available online here.