BT to offer buy-to-keep film service

BT customers will now be able to buy films from 20th Century Fox and Sony Pictures, along with a selection of “modern greats and classics”, on the YouView box.

Movies bought from BT are streamed to the customer’s YouView set-top box and can now be kept indefinitely, making BT the first pay-TV provider in the UK to offer such a service. BT intends include TV box sets over the coming months.

The top titles available to buy in Digital HD and SD, include The Wolverine, The Croods, Elysium, Captain Phillips and The Smurfs 2. Library prices start from £8.99 for films in high-definition and £5.99 for standard definition.

“We are delighted to have reached this agreement with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment,” said Alex Green, director of BT TV.

“The new service gives you even more choice. You can buy the latest blockbusters and they’re yours to keep forever. And you can watch them as many times as you like.”

Robert Price, UK managing director, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, said: “BT TV’s new service complements Fox’s strategy of fostering easy, affordable and accessible ways for film fans to enjoy their favourite movies in Digital HD.”

BT Box Office offers more than 600 films (with many of the top blockbusters available in HD) and has a partnership with Curzon Home Cinema where customers can watch many of the top titles on the same day as their cinema release.