This topic

Bt to become EE?

biohazardx9 — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 17:44:12 GMT

Read this...

https://rxtvinfo.com/2022/bt-shake-up-customers-to-be-moved-to-ee

WWhat does that mean for youview?

Very interesting times ahead... Pro box hasn't been out that long...

Re: Bt to become EE?

PhilNi — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 18:14:34 GMT

Will be interesting! Doubt they will send stickers out like On Digital did when re branding to ITV digital back in the day! Maybe multicast free to air channels coinciding with this development? Perhaps it has been brought forward due to Virgin’s stream box being unveiled yesterday.

Re: Bt to become EE?

Anonymous — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 18:17:08 GMT

I know some prefer official announcements, so here you go: https://newsroom.bt.com/revealing-a-new-bt-which-really-means-business/

And for EE: https://newsroom.bt.com/consumer-sharpening-our-focus-to-create-a-better-business/

Re: Bt to become EE?

DarrenDev — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 19:03:53 GMT

Don't worry - it won't have any impact for now.

There are new products and devices being worked on that will be launched under the new brand, but everything you have already will continue to work (and the BT TV Box Pro will continue to be our flagship product).

You might see logos and colours changing, and you may be asked to update your logins to apps, but nothing that will interfere with your use of BT products.

Re: Bt to become EE?

biohazardx9 — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 22:15:48 GMT

Hopefully some new stuff for youview comes with it.

Re: Bt to become EE?

PhilNi — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 22:27:35 GMT

Yes, it looks a bit empty. Not as many channels as Virgin’s new stream platform, no Apple TV app etc.

Re: Bt to become EE?

PJCORNELLY — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 07:29:54 GMT

Nothing like a rebrand!

It will either all remain the same with a logo and colour change with some slight menu tweaks to make it look different, keeping it a budget viewing option.....

Or some money may be invested to enhance the product to try and compete with the likes of Sky & Virgin.

All will be clear eventually, as with all these announcements it's always 18 months before anything happens.

Re: Bt to become EE?

l0586 — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 08:00:25 GMT

Does that mean the Pro Box will just get branded under EE?

Re: Bt to become EE?

PhilNi — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 09:49:53 GMT

Wonder if we wake up to the LED being green or yellow coloured following an update (that’s if the EE brand logos remains the same etc)?

Re: Bt to become EE?

PJCORNELLY — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 10:06:54 GMT

Having worked in the industry any stock will be rebadged if BT want to pay for that, otherwise they'll be shipped as BT until stock is exhausted.

Re: Bt to become EE?

l0586 — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 10:56:28 GMT

Do you think they would change it as its that established now? or maybe it will adopt BT's colours?

Re: Bt to become EE?

PJCORNELLY — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 11:09:47 GMT

If rebranding it will change, otherwise what's the point. EE livery and logos are bound to be adopted.

Re: Bt to become EE?

Weerab1983 — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 12:00:32 GMT

It will be interesting to see what these new products are. Its a bit open ended so what comes to my mind to change the product and keep it competitive would be freeview over Internet (better chance of HD channels?) and any additional channels eg Discovery channels following the agreement with regards to BT Sport, and additional apps on the bt tv pro box ie. Disney+, apple TV, YouTube, and Discovery Plus, giving live streams of channels

Re: Bt to become EE?

PJCORNELLY — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 12:15:39 GMT

It's all about apps & choices these days, with Roku, Firestick, Apple TV & Smart TVs giving access to most if not all major apps then you have to question the real benefit of a platform unless that platform can collate and provide a unique user experience.

As for HD, that should be standard these days, it is crazy that apps are often SD on BT. If Virgin and Sky can negotiate HD deals with these providers then EE will have to do the same.

I'd be happy to pay a little extra for the main apps and HD content, I don't dislike the youview UI, it needs updating but it is functional.

Re: Bt to become EE?

PJCORNELLY — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 16:51:31 GMT

Just read a Guardian article on BT here:

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/apr/27/bt-unveil-plans-to-make-ee-its-consumer-facing-brand

It states that BT SPORT and BT TV will retain the BT brand.

"The BT brand will also continue to be used for BT Sport, the pay-TV service set to become part of a joint venture with Warner Bros Discovery, and become the lead brand for its business-to-business and global operations."

Re: Bt to become EE?

biohazardx9 — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 18:32:20 GMT

EE once had its own box. Was interesting.

With talk talk and Sony slowly phasing out youview and the lack of youview retail availability I suspect bt will swallow it whole.

More apps are planned I'm certain of it and it knowing that the box uses gstreamer on Linux it isn't too hard to implement.

Eventually I think the box will use Internet streaming as it's main option.

As for other devices I suspect we may see a diskless pro box (non recording version) similar to sky glass Puck and virgins new streamer.

Freeview by aerial will be a thing of the past I suspect.

Emphasis on having sd for those with weak Internet and HD / 4k for those who have better.

Although the pro box can only record two Internet streams this might be increased based on broadband bandwidth.

I can see the future of TV in general being nested into their own apps like a container. Issue with that is if each provider charges between £5-£10 on average then TV will be very expensive or we suffer cheaper subscriptions riddled with annoying adverts. There's also the control of what's available to stream.. Look at Netflix and sky cinema etc stuff comes and goes.

I mean if we sub to all the apps on an entertainment level (excluding sport) we already hit around £60+ ish. When others start appearing it's going to get expensive.