May 21, 2015
BT claims Game of Thrones buy-to-keep first
By Colin Mann
BT TV says it has stolen a march on its rivals by becoming the first pay-TV provider in the UK to offer customers the chance to buy-to-keep the box set of Game of Thrones and other premium programmes through a partnership with HBO Home Entertainment.
BT’s new deal with HBO Home Entertainment means customers can download to own critically-acclaimed HBO programmes including the global phenomenon Game of Thrones (starting with seasons 1-4, season 5 to follow), the complete box set of hit comedy Entourage and the first season of crime drama True Detective. All the titles are available immediately in time for the UK public holiday weekend. Additional HBO programmes will be added throughout the year.
All episodes can be viewed on BT TV’s set top boxes and are automatically available for customers to watch on their smartphones, tablets or PCs at no extra cost, for watching instantly or downloading for viewing on the move.
Alex Green, director of BT TV, described the deal as “yet another fantastic first” for its customers. “We are committed to offering the widest choice of on demand and live content, with pricing and flexibility to suit all our customers. The new deal with HBO comes at the perfect time for people who want to catch up with world-class TV shows over the long Bank Holiday weekend. But of course you get to keep them so you can watch over and over again,” he noted
Sofia Chang, executive vice president and general manager, HBO Home Entertainment, said the company was excited to extend its digital footprint in the UK by making its content available to BT TV customers. “More and more fans are looking to own their favourite programmes digitally and this is another step for HBO Home Entertainment to expand its reach in this important market.”
