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BT Vision - A Vision of the Future?
(06-04-07) - Bridging the gap between Freeview and paid-for digital TV comes BT Vision, the new video-on-demand service from BT, rumoured to launch nationwide in May.
While BT haven’t begun advertising their new service, which will allow customers access to the Freeview digital channels as well as paid for digital programming via their ADSL line, customers can place themselves on a waiting list to be the first to experience the latest in telecommunications convergence.
But what exactly is BT Vision?
BT Vision is digital television through a broadband connection. Accessed through their V-Box, viewers get free access to Freeview channels (as long as they live in a Freeview area) as with any other set-top box, but can also access paid-for services such as movies, music and programmes. These channels were traditionally only available with a Sky or 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 3-4Mb.
How much does it cost?
You’ll be able to order movies from £1.99, music videos from 29p and TV shows from 79p. As well as the chargeable programming, BT Vision customers will get the usual free digital TV and radio channels.
You also get the option of having a subscription package if you want. They range from between £6 and £9 a month.
Then there are the set-up costs to be considered. You have to be a BT broadband customer to get BT Vision and if you’re new to BT or willing to recontract then you get the V-box for free (otherwise it will cost you £199). You will also have to pay a £60 installation fee and a £30 connection fee.
Can I get BT Vision?
BT are expected to take all possible precautions to avoid the kind of over-subscription and availability problems that marred the launch of Carphone Warehouse’s TalkTalk free broadband.
They have set up a checking service so that you can find out if you will be able to get BT Vision, which depends on more than one factor. 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 get it. 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.
Once you have established that you can get BT Vision at home then you need to put yourself on the waiting list for an engineer to come out to your home and install your V-box.
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 then 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 V-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 log on to the website (see Related Sites) to see if its available in your area, and put yourself on the waiting list.
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