BT have done a deal with Microsoft which might mean you'll be getting Homechoice style TV-on-demand down your BT broadband phone line. The phone firm hopes to start piloting the TV-over-broadband service, which would work via a special set top box, early next year.
BT Retail boss Ian Livingstone explains: "TV-over-broadband services will play an important role in BT's triple-play offering for consumers. Our proposed complementary approach of over-the-air broadcast and broadband-delivered video-on-demand, interactivity and enhanced support is the perfect solution and complements existing TV propositions already in the UK market." So that's that cleared up.
BT's announcement follows those previously reported broadband TV trials from cable company Telewest, and an announcement last week by BSkyB that they plan to add on-demand sports and movie functions as part of a service upgrade later this year. This all replicates the service that has been pioneered in London by Homechoice for years - giving users access to a library of new and archive programming which are delivered over a broadband phone line and can be watched when the viewer chooses.