By Jo Best, 28 November 2006 12:05
NEWS
BT's first foray into IPTV is set to launch this December, despite a promised autumn launch.
BT is yet to detail how the service will be priced but users are likely to need a set-top box as well as a broadband subscription from BT. Users will be able to browse all the Freeview channels as well as pick up on-demand programming from BT's suppliers. Customers won't, however, have to pay an additional subscription for telly services.
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Among those who have signed content deals with the telco are MTV, Paramount, Sony and Universal. BT has also won the rights to show Premiership football.
However, on-demand content from the BBC will not be available at launch, as Auntie has yet to agree terms with its regulator, the BBC Trust.
The number of European households with access to digital television signals on their main TV set is expected to quadruple over the next four years to around 44.9 million, according to research from analysts Informa Telcoms and Media.
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1. Alvin Ernest
Congratulations to BT! Leading the way with its IPTV business model. The major aspect of the BT model is that it does not seek to own content; better still it seeks to become competent in channeling content from various providers.
Unlike NTL and BSkyB who seem determined to own the entire value chain from content through to distribution.
No one knows for sure what the outcome will be but I feel that BT's approach has advantages, as it will remain focus on serving the customer with the best possible "menu" whereas NTL and BSkyB may dilute their ability across both "menu" management and content creation.
The one thing we are sure about is that markets are fragmenting; led by increase choice; so I believe that it is almost impossible to achieve viable "menu" consumption if it is not diverse, fluid (changing all the time) and dynamic. Also from a content creation perspective I also believe that content will need to explore as many delivery ("menus") as possible to be a viable activity, again due mainly to market fragmentation resulting from increasing choice...