BT Vision is a subscription digital TV service offered by BT Group in the United Kingdom which was launched in December 2006. As of March 2012 it had an estimated 717,000 subscribers.^[1]

BT Vision is a "hybrid" Digital Terrestrial Television and IPTV service; it delivers TV channels on the DVB-T digital terrestrial platform (using a Freeview decoder) and on-demand content through a hybrid DTT/IP/PVR set-top box, known as the Vision+.^[2] BT requires customers to sign up to the BT Broadband internet and phone service in order to use BT Vision, with connection via BT's official router, BT Home Hub.

History[link]

Background[link]

When British Telecom (BT) was privatised in 1984 it was barred from providing television broadcasts over its telecommunication network, which meant that it was not possible for BT to provide a cable television service. The ban was designed to protect the new smaller telecommunications companies and the small cable television networks in the United Kingdom as it was felt that BT had an unfair advantage because its pre-privatisation monopoly meant that its equipment was already installed in virtually every home and business in the country. In January 2001, the ban was lifted.^[3]

Launch[link]

BT Vision was launched on 5 December 2006, competing with Sky, Virgin Media (then known as NTL:Telewest) and TalkTalk TV (then known as Tiscali TV).^[4] Initial industry reaction was positive although there was some criticism that set up costs were expensive and it was noted that BT Group were entering a competitive market.^[5] In May 2007, BT Group launched a national advertising campaign for BT Vision.^[6] BT Vision was the second IPTV television platform in the UK, after Homechoice TV.

The aim was to attract "hundreds of thousands" of customers by the end of 2007 and 2–3 million in the medium-term.^[7]

Premium sport deal[link]

BT acquired the rights to carry 242 same-day (but not live) Premier League football matches per season in a three-year deal covering the 2007-8, 2008–9 and 2009–10 seasons in a joint bid with BSkyB. BT Vision also have the right to offer on demand coverage of 125 matches each season from the Football League and Carling Cup. This service ceased prior to the start of the 2010–11 season.

Between August 2007 and June 2009, Setanta Sports was available through BT Vision, via DTT and a smart card, offering Live Barclays Premiership and Clydesdale Bank Premier League games, as well as other sporting events such as US PGA Tour Golf and Magners League Rugby. BT Vision made a deal with American sports tv company ESPN^[8] for carriage of its new channel which replaced Setanta on DTT.

The company announced the pricing of their Sky Sports packages in July 2010, following the outcome of Ofcom's review into pay-TV pricing in March, which directed Sky to reduce the wholesale price it charges for the Sky Sports channels.^[9] The price charged to customers signing up for broadband, calls and TV with BT for a two-year contract results in the organisation making a "significant loss on the service",^[10][11] allowing them to undercut the price charged by Sky to its own customers.^[10]

UKTV deal[link]

On 22 March 2012, it was announced that BT would offer UKTV original content on-demand from later in the day. Featured programmes include, James Martin's Mediterranean (Good Food), Choccywoccydoodah (Good Food), Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (Home), Celebrity Fantasy Homes (Home), Tool Academy (Really), Bridezillas (Really), Amazing Planet (Eden) and Life on Fire (Eden).^[12]

As part of the deal, UKTV will start streaming linear channels to BT Vision set top boxes later in 2012. The first three will be Watch, Gold and Alibi and it intents to launch further channels, such as Good Food, Eden and Home.^[13] Dave, Really and Yesterday will likely not launch on the service as they are already available on Freeview, which is available through the BT set-top boxes.

FXUK deal[link]

On the 11th April 2012 BT and FXUK announced that from late 2012 BT Vision customers will be able to watch FXUK as a linear channel. BT Vision customers will also be able to watch many of the top shows, up to seven days after transmission on-demand. They will also be able to watch library programmes on-demand.

Vision+ PVR[link]

The Vision+ is a set-top box, similar to Sky+ and V+, that enables 80 hours of television programmes to be recorded while watching other live programmes. The service is described as providing a range of on-demand content without compulsory subscriptions. However, a BT broadband connection with a guaranteed line speed is required. A self-install version and a technician install version of BT Vision are available.^[14]

The original Silver Vision+ box is a Philips DIT9719 running Microsoft Mediaroom software, and the new Black Vision+ box is made by Pace.^[15] However plans are afoot to move to an open source operating system.^[16] Only one Vision+ can be used at a time to connect to the BT Vision service using a single Home Hub / Broadband Line.

Packages[link]

BT Vision's two main packages are TV Essential and TV Unlimited. Both packages will come with a Vision+ box which will have all Freeview television & radio channels, and Vision Replay (Catch Up TV).

On Demand

Vision TV, Music, Kids and Sport are on-demand. All will cost 50p a show with TV Essential, and all will be free and unlimited with TV Unlimited. Vision Filmclub is available for free with TV Unlimited, and is not available for TV Essential.

PPV On Demand

Vision Box Office and Vision Adult are on a pay per view basis, available with both TV Essential and TV Unlimited. Vision Adult is available for a 3 hour rental.

International On Demand

Bollywood & Beyond offers Indian content on-demand. It is only available with TV Unlimited.

Premium Sport

ESPN is free of charge with TV Unlimited. It is not available with TV Essential. They are available on both TV Essential and TV Unlimited (A viewing card is required).

Vision Replay[link]

Vision Replay is the name of the Catch Up TV services, which is available free of charge.

• BBC iPlayer
• ITV Player
• 4oD
• Demand 5

From late May 2008, BT discontinued free access to BBC TV replay, instead requiring Vision users to take out a monthly subscription. However, In November 2010, BT announced that BT Vision subscribers would be able to access the BBC iPlayer from the end of June 2011.^[17] This service was built by Pushbutton for Microsoft Mediaroom.

ITV Net Player has been available since December 2008. Demand 5 was removed on 6 October 2010 but reinstated in May 2011.

Sport channels[link]

BT offers the following premium sport channels to its customers:

• ESPN
• Sky Sports 1
• Sky Sports 2

These are delivered via digital terrestrial transmission. They are shared between BT Vision and Top Up TV.

Vision TV on-demand[link]

Content is provided by:

• BBC
• UKTV
• Comedy Central
• The History Channel
• CBS Television Studios
• Living TV
• The Military Channel
• Military History
• MTV
• National Geographic Channel
• ITV
• Channel 4
• Channel 5
• HBO
• Warner Bros. Television
• Adult Swim
• Sony Pictures Television
• Discovery Channel
• ABC Studios

Vision Music on-demand[link]

BT has agreed deals with:

• Sony BMG
• EMI Music
• Universal Music
• Warner Music Group
• NBD^{[disambiguation needed ]}
• Planet Rock

who provide over 1,500 music videos, concerts and music documentaries, on-demand. The concert programming covers a wide variety of genres including rock, pop, urban and alternative, jazz and opera.

The music line-up includes names such as Avril Lavigne, Coldplay, Duran Duran, Fatboy Slim, Oasis, Queen and Phil Collins.

Vision Kids on-demand[link]

BT has agreed deals with:

• BBC Worldwide
• Disney Channel
• Disney Cinemagic
• Disney XD
• Disney Junior
• Nickelodeon
• Cartoon Network
• Boomerang
• HIT Entertainment
• Entertainment Rights
• Milkshake!
• Baby TV

who provide hundreds of children's programs on-demand.

Vision Sport on-demand[link]

In addition to the Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports 2 and ESPN sport channels, Vision Sport is an archive of football, wrestling boxing, martial arts, motorsports and extreme sports matches available on-demand, with a few on a pay per view basis.

Vision Filmclub on-demand[link]

BT Vision has signed deals with the following studios to provide classic and new films:

• PictureBox Movies
• Warner Films
• Film4

Vision Box Office on-demand[link]

Vision Box Office provides a library of the latest blockbuster film's on a pay per view basis.

Films on Vision Box Office mainly come from the following content providers

• DreamWorks
• Paramount Pictures
• NBC Universal
• Lionsgate films
• Buena Vista International (Disney)
  • Walt Disney Pictures
  • Touchstone Pictures
  • Miramax Films
  • Pixar Animation Studios
• Warner Bros.
• Momentum Pictures
• MGM
• Artificial Eye

Vision Adult on-demand[link]

There are also some adult channels, some of which are:

• Playboy TV
• The Adult Channel
• Spice Extreme
• Penthouse TV
• Fantasy

A special PIN called (Adult PIN) is required to access content on Vision Adult as a security proaction so that children cannot access the adult content.

Bolly & Beyond on-demand[link]

BT has agreed a deal with Shemaroo Entertainment, who provides soap operas, films and other programmes from India.

References[link]

External links[link]

• BT Vision, official site.
• BT Vision Sport, BT Vision Sport

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