Vodafone close to TV launch in the UK

Vodafone will soft launch its pay TV service in the UK next month, according to UK press reports.

UK newspaper the Daily Telegraph reported this morning that the telco giant is putting “the final touches” to its pay TV service and will launch its set top box next month.

The launch of the service has been delayed but with an October rollout will have sport via the Sky Now service, although it has not got a deal in place for the BT Sport services.

The Telegraph adds that Vodafone is likely to first offer its TV service to staff and then existing subscribers to work through any teething problems.

Vodafone first talked about a TV service in the UK in 2014, with a 2015 launch expected, before delays put it the rollout back.

A full-scale commercial launch is expected in late 2016. It will mean the telco can offer a quad-play of fixed and mobile telephony, broadband, and video.