BT Signs New Long-Term Deal with UKTV: More Video-on-Demand and More HD Shows

Telecoms giant BT has signed a deal with UKTV to extend access to the broadcaster’s suite of ten television channels and deliver more video on demand (VOD) content to YouView subscribers.

Subscribers to BT’s IPTV platform will continue to enjoy access to the same access to UKTV’s channels they’ve had since BT TV’s launch, including whodunit Alibi and laugh factory Dave, along with Drama, Eden, Gold, Good Food, Home, Really, W, and Yesterday.

But customers will now be able to access Video-on-Demand content in high definition via their YouView set-top box. Subscribers will also be able to download and play it on the go via the new BT TV app.

Tony Singh, Content and Business Development Director for BT’s Consumer division, welcomed the deal. “Our continued UKTV partnership allows us to keep giving our customers a brilliant range of entertainment, comedy, drama, and lifestyle channels,” he said.

Simon Michaelides, UKTV’s Chief Commercial Officer, was similarly enthusiastic. “We’re very pleased to be building on our already strong relationship with BT. UKTV channels play a significant role for BT TV customers, so it’s great to be able to extend our VoD services and give them more of the shows that they love, as well as an exciting and expanding portfolio of original new shows and exclusive acquisitions,” he said.

BT appears to have avoided the dispute over fees rival IPTV provider Virgin Media had with UKTV over the summer, which saw UKTV’s channels temporarily pulled from Virgin TV subscribers’ menus. Virgin and UKTV managed to settle the disagreement and, after a few weeks without Dave, Virgin TV viewers had their full selection of UKTV channels restored, along with the channels Virgin added to replace them, including Paramount HD, History HD, and Vice.

Lauren Smith

Lauren Smith has worked as a journalist and copywriter for most of the last decade, covering technology, energy, and consumer rights, in the US and UK.

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