BT raises multiplay stakes with Ultra HD first

By Digital TV Europe

BT has unveiled details of its forthcoming Ultra HD TV package, which will include what the company says will be Europe’s very first live sports UHD channel – BT Sport Ultra HD, reports DTVE.

The channel will launch with a live broadcast of the FA Community Shield match at Wembley on August 2 between Chelsea and Arsenal followed by the first game of the Barclays Premier League season with Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur on August 8. Other live events will include games from the UEFA Champions League, Barclays Premier League, FA Cup, Aviva Premiership Rugby and MotoGP.

As part of the package, BT will offer what connected TV platform YouView describes as the first UHD set-top box to be launched in the UK.The Humax T4000 box was developed in partnership with BT and includes a 1TB hard drive that enables storage of 600 hours in SD or 250 hours in HD.

The overall package will include 47 channels including 13 HD services and the BT Sport Pack for £15 a month. BT is also providing a voucher for up to £500 off the price of an LG 4K UHD TV as part of its offering.

“The best way to watch BT Sport is with BT TV. BT Sport Ultra HD is the next step in high definition TV and provides a truly cinematic viewing experience and is available only on BT TV. The BT Sport Ultra HD channel will bring you closer to the action than ever before. The picture quality is absolutely amazing – it’s four times the detail of today’s high definition TV. We are proud to be innovating and leading the UK TV market with our Entertainment Ultra HD package which offers customers the best in premium TV.” Said Delia Bushel, managing director of BT TV and BT Sport.

“We are immensely proud of the partnership with BT to deliver the first Ultra HD set top box in the UK. This ground-breaking delivery cements YouView’s ability to create consumer technology that shapes our industry,” said Richard Halton, CEO of YouView.