BT Vision is asking customers to pay for on-demand BBC content freely available on the iPlayer.
The company has contacted subscribers saying that BBC VoD programmes will now incur a charge as part of its paid for service, the TV Replay Pack.
Previously, users could watch BBC VoD content for free.
BT says it always planned to charge for the programmes but was prevented from doing so by a technical problem. It's always had paid-for on-demand access to Channel 4 content, which is also freely available online.
The BBC isn't making any money on the deal though. A BBC spokeswoman said the move by BT meets with the corporation's demand that content is always made available under the cheapest possible subscription package.
"In line with other TV platforms where BBC programmes are made available on demand, the BBC requires that all public service content should be accessible via the lowest cost subscription tier, which in this case, is BT Replay," she said.
BT Vision have made great leaps in increasing their customer base having gained 94,000 customers in the first quarter of 2008, reaching a total of 214,000. This compares well to BSkyB who acquired 32,00 and Virgin who gained 75,000.
Dan Marks, chief exec of BT Vision made his intentions for the service known.“Our medium-term goal is to secure two to three million subscribers for our BT Vision service..."
Also, Royal Phillips Electronics who had been producing the V Box (BTs' version of the set top box) have been taken over by Pace. Pace have announced they will be producing a more powerful box with a better processor and more advanced interactive features.
[Link via Informitv]
BT's on-demand service BT Vision will offer movies on a new premium subscription channel.
The company is partnering with Universal Pictures to launch a UK version of the studio's Picturebox fim subscription service which has already rolled out in Poland and Singapore.
(EDIT: This is the third UK platform for NBC's PictureBox service - it after debuted on Top-Up TV Anytime in 06 and Tiscali TV in 07. From ChunkyMonkey, Forums)
PictureBox will have 28 titles at launch on May 5th, including Atonement, The Bourne Ultimatum, The Kingdom, Knocked Up, Hot Fuzz and Elizabeth: The Golden Age.
Continue reading BT Vision Goes to the Movies...