BT Vision: Launched In UK December 4

• November 29th, 2006 | IPTV

BT’s Vision broadband TV service is due to launch on December 4 and will be rolled out gradually throughout the UK next year, where recent reports indicate that internet TV is making inroads into the amount of time average people watch traditional TV.  BT Vision is part of an initiative to get BT into the front room where they can distribute content and generate revenue.

The BT Vision box will combine a Freeview digital TV receiver, which tunes into free-to-air terrestrial TV stations, with video-on-demand that can be downloaded via the internet.  BT have already signed several deals with Disney, Channel 4, MTV, Paramount Comedy, Sony BMG and Nickelodeon among others where content from these networks will be made available to download.

With the box, which looks like any other set-top box, you get basic PVR functionality such as the ability to save up to 80 hours of TV, as well as pause and rewinding live TV.  While you can view any of the Freeview channels free of choice, if you want to watch content from non-Freeview channels you’ll have to pay (an undisclosed) amount.

Obviously the race to converge is well underway, and companies like BT are well placed.  But at the end of the day it won’t be about the set-top box, it’s going to come down to choice of channels and pricing.