BT has stepped up its efforts to attract TV customers with a major launch of new channels and by offering customers the chance to build their own TV package made up of just the content they actually want to watch. 

BT’s core Entertainment pack is just £7 a month and includes 18 popular pay TV channels, such as Discovery, National Geographic, Comedy Central and Gold. 

The company is today announcing the launch of two additional channel bolt-ons for just £3 a month each: HD Extra which features high definition versions of many of the channels in Entertainment plus the three BT Sport channels in HD, and Kids Extra, featuring nine popular kids channels including Nickelodeon, Disney, Boomerang and Cartoon Network.

These channel bolt-ons are available to all customers with BT Infinity who take the Entertainment pack. The company has also introduced a “three for £20” deal* for new customers, (BT line rental £15.45 a month) until December 9. This offers Infinity fibre-optic broadband, the Entertainment channels pack, BT Sport and a free award-winning YouView box featuring catch up TV from all the major public sector broadcasters and more than 70 Freeview TV and radio channels.

This compares to Sky’s entry-level TV Entertainment pack at £21.50 a month that does not include fibre broadband or Sky Sports.

BT is also changing its on demand offerings to flexible monthly bolt-ons, allowing customers to choose from Kids or Music on demand at £3 a month each or Film & TV Box Sets at £5 per month. The Music bolt on will feature music videos, karaoke, concerts and also from this week, a wide range of complete albums.

The on demand bolt-ons are available to all existing customers and can be added to the basic Essential pack at £5 a month or, for Infinity customers, added to the Entertainment pack at £7 a month.

Customers can also take advantage of BT TV’s recent deal with BSkyB by adding 11 Sky Movies channels for £16 a month and from BT’s growing Box Office service including the Curzon Home Cinema deal that the company recently announced. The partnership with Curzon offers customers the ability to view films in their theatrical window from the comfort of their own home as well as exclusively curated sessions – only available on BT TV.

Alex Green, director of TV for BT, said: “This new line-up is undoubtedly our strongest TV offering.  BT TV now offers over 100 TV channels, including more than 50 delivered via our broadband network.

 “We can offer a fantastic HD quality experience through the power of fibre, and there’s something for all the family with our great new Kids channels. We know that customers don’t like paying a fortune for hundreds of channels they never watch so we’re making things easier for them and putting the choice in their hands.”

Enquiries about this news release should be made to the BT Group Newsroom on its 24-hour number: 020 7356 5369. From outside the UK dial + 44 20 7356 5369, email: newsroom@bt.com.

All news releases can be accessed at our web site: http://www.btplc.com/News

Notes to editors

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*Offer ends 09/12/13. New BT Infinity and TV customers signing up for 12 months pay £20 a month for 12 months, then £25 a month plus line rental. Includes Infinity Option 1, Unlimited UK** Weekend Calls, BT TV Entertainment and a BT Home Hub (unless BT has already provided you with a Hub). A 10 metre cable will be provided or you will be charged £35 for an engineer install if required. Audio description and subtitles are not available on pay TV channels. You will get a YouView box but if you stop your service in the first year we will charge you up to £299. HD requires suitable HDMI cable, a HD ready TV and 15Mbps minimum line speed for streaming. YouView customers can not currently record, rewind or pause pay TV channels, bolt-ons or BT Sport. Data usage 40GB a month. You will need to pay by direct debit. You’ll need a fast-enough line. We’ll charge you for on demand content. Availability of digital channels and quality of content depends on local transmitter and suitable rooftop aerial (www.bt.com/freeview).  Non-offer price: £22 a month made up of monthly costs; Infinity 1 + Calls £15 and BT TV Entertainment £7. Subject to availability, minimum line speed and computer specification.  Terms apply. Kids/HD Extra & Sky Movies: Video on demand & channel bolt-on available on a one month minimum term. Sky Movies excludes Premiere+1, MGM and stunt channels. **Calls of up to 1 hour to 01, 02 & 03 numbers, excluding Channel Islands. Other exclusions apply.

About BT

BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in more than 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, BT Retail, BT Wholesale and Openreach.

For the year ended 31 March 2013, BT Group’s reported revenue was £18,103m with reported profit before taxation of £2,315m.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.

For more information, visit www.btplc.com