EE TV, EE UK's recently rolled out TV Everywhere service allows broadband subscribers to share content on their home TV sets as well as multiple mobile devices (used within the premises). The move by EE brings the broadband segment a step closer to the realization of a fully integrated digital services offering which envisions users being able to share content and access to digital services on every connected screen regardless of the connection - from mobile devices to TV screens to digital screens in the car and other digital interfaces including wearables. This latest integrated mobile and home TV offering from EE comes at a time where video services are taking up the largest share in mobile data consumption as the appetite for Over-the-Top (OTT) video services and online video streaming keeps growing. According to EE, video services make up more than 50% of its 4G mobile network activity.
Under the newly unveiled offer, EE subscribers will be able to enjoy a host of popular live and recorded as well as on-demand content covering a wide range of online channels and video applications including more than 10,000 TV series and movies on top of Freeview HD's more than 70 channels and major video apps such as BBC Sport and BBC News, DailyMotion, BBC iPlayers, Demand 5, Wuaki.tv, YouTube and The Weather Network. According to EE, in near future, subscribers can expect to access other services including interactive TV services as it continues to onboard new content and application providers onto its content platform. Interactive TV services will enable subscribers to experience apps style control and management of the content they watch and also enables users to conduct online transactions via their TV sets.
The offer which enables four devices to connect to the service at the same time translates to four people watching different channels/on-demand/recorded content in four locations within the house, all under one package and one subscription. The current offer bundles the EE TV with the home broadband connection (with the choice of broadband and fiber) and home phone service. All that subscribers need to do is sign up for EE Broadband plan and receive a free EE TV smart box worth £300 that will enable them to start accessing EE TV's content. Users can either stream or record content from up to four channels at the same time and access this content from the smart box's 1TB hard drive using a new remote app for iOS and Android. The smart box also comes with an easy and user-friendly interface which enables users to view the menu, the TV guide, the recorded content, the top-picks for the day and other information to help them to pick the right content.
According to EE, eligible broadband plans start at £9.95 per month and include free weekend calls and unlimited Broadband with speeds of up to 17Mbps. For those who want extra speed, Unlimited Fibre Broadband (up to 38Mbps) and Fibre Plus (up to 76Mbps) are available for just £19.95 and £29.95 per month respectively. In addition to this, mobile customers will receive a 10GB data boost (for PAYM plans from £14.99) and a 20GB data boost (on plans from £43.99) when they sign up for the plan. All these offers are currently available to EE mobile customers and requires EE Line Rental at £19.95.
Today we’re announcing the most advanced TV service the UK has ever seen. How, where and when people watch TV and movies is changing, and mobile technology is driving that change. As the UK’s biggest and fastest network, with more than 25 million customers, we have unrivalled insight into people’s changing viewing habits. It’s helped us create a service that has mobile at its heart, and makes the TV experience more personal than ever before. With EE TV, not only can you watch different streams of live and recorded content, on multiple screens simultaneously, but your mobile becomes the remote. This gives each viewer the chance to watch, queue and view what they want, when they want. It’s a completely new way to enjoy your favourite programmes, films and internet content.
- Olaf Swantee, CEO, EE