FetchTV apps for smart TVs
December 2, 2011
By Colin Mann
IP Vision, the UK’s hybrid DTT/IPTV over-the-top TV specialist, has unveiled the first two FetchTV apps for smart TVs. The FetchTV app for Panasonic Smart VIERA TVs went live this week; the app for Samsung’s Smart TV platform will launch during Q1 2012.
Customised versions of the FetchTV content portal for other smart TV platforms will be announced in 2012. The move onto smart TVs forms part of IP Vision’s ongoing strategy to diversify onto different connected devices, including Blu-ray players and PCs.
The FetchTV apps offer consumers on-demand access to a wealth of movies from major studios, as well as a range of specialist TV channels covering everything from documentaries to concerts and kids’ programmes.
No contract, subscription or monthly payment is required to access the service, which the company suggests makes it a very cost-effective option for households that want great on-demand content without being locked in to a monthly fee. Content can be viewed on a PAYG basis or, for unlimited access to specific types of programmes, there are micro-subscription options from as little as £1.99 (€2.31) a month.
Eddie Abrams, IP Vision’s CEO said the evolution of smart TVs represented possibly the greatest transformation to the TV viewing experience since the advent of colour back in the 1960s. “These new TVs provide a natural home for FetchTV. Our strategy from the outset has been to diversify onto a whole range of different connected devices, offering consumers a rich entertainment experience that won’t break the bank. The FetchTV app for Panasonic Smart VIERA TVs went live this week and we will follow shortly with Samsung and other key manufacturers,” he added.