BT signs C4 to Net TV offering

BT has signed up Channel 4 to its TV service, BT Vision. After the December launch of the set-top-box-based service, the likes of Shameless, Queer As Folk, Jamie’s School Dinners and Father Ted will be available on-demand from the Channel 4 archive, via Channel 4’s on demand service 4oD. There will also be on-demand access to Film4, via Film4oD.

Away from the archive, the previous eight days’ worth of broadcasts will be available through BT Vision’s ‘catch-up’ TV service.

‘Channel 4 is the most innovative and distinctive brand in UK television,’ said Rod Henwood, New Business Director at Channel 4, ‘but in a fully digital world we need to make sure our content is available on multiple platforms so it can be watched whenever, wherever and however our viewers demand. I am delighted 4oD content will be available on BT Vision at launch, helping further establish Channel 4’s reputation as a leader in video on demand.’

Note that no exact date has been confirmed for the launch of this specific BT Vision service, which will require a BT set-top box as part of the BT Total Broadband package. Other download-to-own and on-demand BT Vision offerings are already available to all, regardless of whether or not they are a BT broadband customer.

Channel 4 is just the latest media company that BT has signed up. Earlier this summer, for example, Universal came on board in a deal including both video-on-demand and download-to-own services. Other content deals have been made with Dreamworks, i-concerts, Eagle Rock and BBC Worldwide, among others.

Beginning with the 2007/08 season, BT Vision will also have the ‘near-live’ rights to Premier League matches.

While BT Vision is a consumer offering, the telco is also providing mobile TV services to third-parties, via its BT Movio technology. In September, for example, Virgin launched a BT-based TV-on-mobile service.