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BT Vision

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BT Vision gives you a huge range of films, TV shows, sport and music videos on demand, as well as Freeview television channels and digital radio stations - all through your broadband connection.

BT Vision packages

What exactly is BT Vision?

BT Vision is digital television through a broadband connection - but on your TV. Accessed through BT Broadband's (www.BT.com) Vision+ Box, you get access to Freeview channels - as long as you live in a Freeview area - as with any other set-top box, but can also access paid-for services such as movies, music and digital TV programmes.

These channels were traditionally only available with a Sky Broadband (www.Sky.com), Tiscali Broadband (now owned by TalkTalk) or Virgin Media (www.VirginMedia.com) cable connection but you can now get them through your broadband connection too.

Will it affect my broadband?

To get BT Vision, you will need to be a BT Broadband customer - click here to visit www.btbroadband.com. Before installing BT Vision in your home, BT will first check whether or not you can get it. To have BT Vision you must be averaging at least a 2Mb broadband connection - anything less than this and it just won’t work.

BT has also developed a method to ensure that your kid’s downloading won’t affect your TV. They will prioritise your bandwidth so that it first goes to your TV, then any internet telephony, and finally to your actual internet use. This sharing of your bandwidth shouldn’t be a problem as long as you have fast enough broadband - the best would be more than 3Mb-4Mb.

How much does it cost?

You have two options when it comes to BT Vision; a subscription package, or pay per view.

If you sign up to one of BT Vision’s Bronze, Silver or Gold TV packs, you can get a reconditioned Vision+ Box for just £15.

Alternatively, you can buy a Vision+ Box for £90, for Freeview access, paying to watch additional TV programmes and films as and when you want to. In this way, you can watch music videos from 28p, sport and TV from 47p, or movies from £1.94.

Can I get BT Vision?

A number of factors affect whether or not you can get BT Vision. Your distance from the exchange is crucial, and the quality of the wires between your home and the exchange can also affect whether or not you can sign up. A copper shortage in the 1970s meant that some of the “copper wire network” used for delivering broadband internet is actually aluminium, and doesn’t work so well.

And, as mentioned before, you’ll also have to have BT broadband and will have to use a BT Home Hub - if you’re an online gamer or someone who wants a high-end router, this could be a problem for you.

You should note that if you don’t live in a Freeview area, then you still won’t be able to access Freeview channels using BT Vision, even thought its running through your internet connection. If this is the case, then some of the features on your Vision+ Box, like pausing “live” TV will also become inactive. But you’ll still be able to access the paid-for channels and programming.

What now?

If you think that BT Vision sounds right for you then you can sign up on BT’s website, or through Broadbandchoices.co.uk.

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