Amazon Prime on BT TV STBs
June 21, 2018
By Colin Mann
UK multiplay telco BT has become the first major UK pay-TV provider to offer Amazon Prime Video access via a set-top box – giving customers the ability to access Prime Video’s TV & movie content at the push of the button.
The move – revealed by advanced-television in mid-May 2018 – forms part of BT’s ambition to offer BT TV customers unrivalled choice through partnerships with the world’s best content providers.
BT TV customers are now able to access the Prime Video App, allowing them to sign-up and watch thousands of TV episodes and movies, including award-winning Prime Originals and exclusive series such as The Grand Tour; The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel; and live exclusive coverage of the US Open Tennis Championships, along with the widest range of TV box sets.
The move also means BT TV customers will be able to access every Premier League match from the 2019/20 season, with customers able to sign-up for Amazon Prime as well as BT Sport and Sky Sports via their set-top box.
“We’re delighted to be the first UK pay-TV service to offer Amazon Prime Video content to our customers,” declared Tony Singh, content and business development director for BT’s Consumer division. “BT TV gives our customers the flexibility they want to watch all their favourite shows – and of course all the sport – in one place and on one bill. Our ambition is to offer an unrivalled choice of TV content for our customers by partnering with the very best providers and, with Prime Video joining a brilliant line-up including BT Sport, Netflix, NOW TV, BBC iPlayer.”
“We want Prime members to be able to watch all their favourite content when they want, on any device they want, and Prime Video is already available on thousands of devices, from Smart TVs to games consoles to tablets and mobile devices,” noted Brett Ballbach, Business Development Director for Prime Video Europe. “We’re delighted to add to that range of devices with Prime Video now available to access via BT TV set top boxes – we think customers are going to love the opportunity to stream their favourite Prime Original shows and Prime exclusive sports on the device.”
BT TV Customers will start receiving the Amazon Prime Video app from June 21st with roll out happening throughout the summer of 2018.
According to Paolo Pescatore, VP Multiplay & Media, CCS Insight, the arrival of Amazon Prime represents a key step towards making BT TV a one-stop shop for households. “The addition of NOW TV next year firmly positions BT as a super aggregator of content (entertainment, movies, sports and more); one to watch for 2019,” he suggests.
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