BT Signs Music Content For On-Demand TV Service

BT’s forthcoming IPTV service, BT Vision, has signed new content deals to offer customers more than 500 concerts and performances from launch, with the content including material from some of the world’s biggest music artists.

Deals between i-concerts and Eagle Rock, two of the most respected providers of long-form music video content, will see content spanning a variety of genres find its way to the BT service, including rock, pop, urban and alternative

Jazz and classical music will also be made available to customers, with big name artists such as Franz Ferdinand, Keane, Bon Jovi, Andrea Bocelli, Billy Joel, Pavarotti, Roxy Music and Sheryl Crow among those making an appearance.

Dan Marks, CEO of BT Television Services, said: “BT Vision will offer a comprehensive music service with programming to suit all tastes and all available on demand. These important deals will allow us to bring concerts that would otherwise be very difficult, or impossible, to find on broadcast television to a wide audience on attractive terms and with high quality picture and sound.

“Unlike many other current entertainment offerings, BT Vision will be offered nationwide and there will be no mandatory subscription.”

Natalia Tsarkova, president of i-concerts, added: “This deal allows us to fulfil our strategy to form alliances with some of the leading and most innovative VOD platforms in key territories, and BT Vision is the perfect partner to launch our service in the UK.”

Last year saw BT sign content distribution deals with BBC Worldwide, Paramount and Warner Music Group, with each broadcaster providing films and TV programmes to BT for inclusion with the Vision service (see BT Signs First Content Deals For IPTV Service). Other content producers known to have signed with the telecoms giant are the National Geographic Channel, HIT Entertainment, Nelvana and Turner Broadcasting.

Launching in the autumn, BT Vision will also allow customers to access Freeview channels, make telephone calls through their broadband connection and will later be expanded to include video messaging (see BT Unveils Next Generation TV Service).

BT: 0207 469 2337 www.btplc.com