BT Vision
BT Vision is a revolutionary new High Definition service that combines both terrestrial digital television and IPTV (Internet Protocol Television), which is a system of transmitting programming over your domestic broadband line. As part of the BT Vision package you will received a BT V-Box which acts as a Personal Video Recorder (PVR) Freeview receiver with built in 160GB hard drive and through your BT broadband line you will be able to download selected TV programmes or films directly onto your V-Box for viewing on your television.
How does BT Vision work?
BT Vision is a hybrid of standard Freeview technology and IPTV that incorporates High Definition programming when it becomes available on the service. In order to use BT Vision you will require a V-Box, which BT will supply, you will need to subscribe to BT broadband (if you don't already) and finally a BT Home Hub will be needed so that the IPTV broadcasts can be routed to the V-Box.
This may sound very technical and the protocol behind the IPTV system is very complicated, but you will not need to be at all technical to take advantage of a service which is essentially a Freeview PVR integrated with a broadband line. If you choose to purchase BT Vision a BT engineer will install the system for you in its entirety.
What channels can I receive on BT Vision?
You will receive all the standard Freeview television and radio channels on offer free of charge and you can optionally choose to subscribe to additional packages through the IPTV function.
Additional subscription options include -
Film - A vast array of the latest films which updates regularly
TV - Numerous award wining TV series from terrestrial television both new and old which can be categorised in the comedy, drama, documentary and lifestyle genres.
Kids - A selection of pre-school and cartoon programming
Music - This includes a selection of live concerts, music videos and music documentaries
Sport - BT Vision is working in conjunction with Setanta Sports so you are able to view Premiership and Scottish Premier League football along with standard Setanta Sports output.
The programming above can be subscribed to per genre or alternatively per football match, film or TV programme.
BT Vision costs and benefits
When you choose to purchase BT Vision you will receive the V-Box (integrated IPTV and Freeview receiver with a 160GB hard drive worth £199) free of charge. If you don't already have BT broadband you will need to get this along with a BT Home Hub (the BT Home Hub is offered free of charge with many BT broadband packages!). Once your BT Vision has been ordered you can subscribe to whichever packages you require or alternatively choose to subscribe to nothing if you don't want to pay for any programming.
A great advantage to this service is the flexibility it affords and as it is being run by BT you can be assured that new channels and features will be added to the service. The V-Box is also HD capable (although HD programming has not yet been introduced) so you will receive an HD capable digital receiver with hard drive free of charge! If you are an existing BT broadband subscriber, the benefits of this service both in terms of cost and functionality are excellent and well worth considering.
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