EE TV launches remote viewing with ‘Recordings To Go’

UK mobile operator EE has launched a new feature for its EE TV service that will let customers record free-to-view programmes to their mobile or tablet to watch out of the home.

BT-owned EE, which first launched its TV offering in 2014, said ‘Recordings To Go’ is designed to “set new standards” in how consumers access and watch TV and establishes EE TV as the first UK TV service to allow remote viewing of “any and all” free programming.

EE TV customers can select content from any of EE TV’s roughly 70 free-to-view channels to record and then transfer to a mobile device as soon as it has aired.

Users will be able to keep the shows until they choose to delete them, with no expiry date applying to the record shows, according to EE. Customers can also manage and set recordings while out of the house using the EE TV app.

“We’re continually looking at ways to offer new, exciting and innovative TV features to our customers and now we’ve made EE TV truly mobile. With Recordings To Go, we’re giving users unique control over how and where they choose to watch TV – whether that’s on a train, bus, tube or even a plane,” said Simeon Bird, EE’s director of home broadband and TV.

The Recordings To Go hub appears on the main menu of the updated EE TV app, and is designed to make it easy for users to view all of their recorded shows in one place, said EE.

Paolo Pescatore, director, multiplay and media at research firm CCS Insight welcomed the move, describing it as “significant” for EE’s mobile-centric TV service.

“Despite being acquired by BT, the company continues to bring new innovative features to EE TV. The latest update will resonate with users as it extends the EE TV experience outside of the home,” he said.

“There is no denying that it is going to be a big year for video services in the UK. Vodafone will launch its own TV service, Sky is rolling out a new revamped Now TV box as well as launching UHD and, of course online providers are adding new features like HDR and much more.”

EE launched its TV service in October 2014 offering content across mobiles, tablets and via a TV set-top box.

In January of this year BT closed its £12.5 billion (€16.7 billion) buyout of EE, giving it a major foothold in the UK quadplay market.  However, EE’s head of strategy, Guillaume Sampic, said last month that EE will continue to market its recently launched TV service independent of BT as part of its plan to keep the two brands separate.