BT Sport free to Infinity customers

Announcement due soon. Should include premier league matches.

Already announced http://forums.thinkbroadband.com/worldcup2006/t/4236...

It is actually "BT Sport will be free to any consumer BT broadband customer".

This is much more than Infinity customers!

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

Already announced http://forums.thinkbroadband.com/worldcup2006/t/4236...

To add to that:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22462525

That could tempt many to take a long contract.

The main article is wrong about only being able to order tomorrow onwards. I just started a new 12 month BT broadband contract on 25th April and was just able to successfully order and add BT sport for free via the BT website. Good timing meaning a contract of just 12 months 2 weeks overall!

Edited by deleted (Thu 09-May-13 14:27:39)

I started an order of BT Infinity but could only get BT Sports included if I added one of the BT Vision packages for a minimum of £5 per month (so *not* free). It did include online access via a computer or mobile device but that is not the same thing at all.

I tried their online help chatline but realised I was being fobbed off with what he thought I wanted to hear by telling me the BT Sports channels would be recordable on my existing Youview box. Unless something has changed or will change, Youview boxes can only record broadcast channels not online channels.

So, still as clear as mud at the moment.

I'm confused, if I have Infinity does that mean that I'll be able to get BT Sport for free on Sky? I already pay Sky £85 a month for TV alone and I'd rather not have to pay any more on top of that.

Yes

I presume the the channel will appear with a call 1234 to activate, and at that point you verify you are a BT Customer and link it to the viewing card and viola you get the channels over the satellite.

In reference to www.btsport.com:

If you have a satellite receiver box and viewing card, you can easily take BT Sport from us. You don't need to be a BT customer - but if you have our broadband, it's free. And it's only available direct from BT. Order now for free HD for a year.

BT Sport is available on the Sky Digital Satellite Platform and BT TV with Infinity for new and existing broadband customers who sign up for 12 months or have 12 months remaining on their contract; ongoing renewal needed to get at a BT Sport at a discount. Sport on BT TV requires compatible box, fee £49-£299 may apply. For Sky Digital Satellite Platform viewing a satellite receiver box and active viewing card are required. e-billing required. UK only. Terms apply. Please check bt.com/sport for details.

Thanks Andrew, BT Sport 1 and 2HD have already appeared in the Sky guide but just display the logo at the moment. I'm a bit nervous having read those terms and conditions though. I just started a new 18 month Infinity contract so I'll have to see what BT say, hopefully that new 12 months will be within the original 18 and not forcing me to say with BT for two and a half years... ) :

Edit: Just tried to order it but, assuming my end is fine, it would appear that the BT site is struggling to process all the orders. I'm just getting a constant spinning wheel in Chrome and IE, will try again in a bit.

Edit 2: Half an hour later, we're now experiencing unprecedented demand : /

Edited by deleted (Thu 09-May-13 20:59:40)

In reply to a post by professor973:

That could tempt many to take a long contract.

only if my team got promoted to the EPL.

Incidently an offer that requires a new contract commitment isnt really free.

I am curious how good the streaming is on the pc as not everyone watches tv on a tv.

The streaming will use MS Silverlight

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

The streaming will use MS Silverlight

ouch.

Whats atracting commercial media companies to that mess silverlight isnt even developed anymore microsoft have killed it, yet netflix, bt and sky all using it.

But still my question, will the pc streaming be some hashed down low bitrate stream or will it be full hd.

Edited by Chrysalis (Fri 10-May-13 09:02:13)

Fired off questions to BT

Checked and no need to take new contracts/extensions for existing customers.

Your BT credentials will get you access to the smart phone/tablet app or web based streaming.

Where contracts come into play is the access to free channels over Sky Satellite TV and the BT Vision/YouView boxes.

In terms of quality of web streaming, we need to wait until closer to 1st August to learn the various bit rates the streams will be available at.

What about DTT? Is there any contract for that?

It says

DTT customers will need a conditional access card. This costs £10. BT Sport 1 and 2 will be available via DTT in standard definition whilst ESPN will be available via the App.

The DTT refers to DTT view BT Vision box I believe, rather than generic freeview and access cards.

In that sense it is lumped in with BT TV (collective name for Vision and YouView)

Andrew

To me that doesn't make sense as if "DTT customers will need a conditional access card" means BT Vision, they already know you're a BT customer and a card wouldn't be needed, would it?

The card handles the decryption of the channels, so hence the one off fee.

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

To me that doesn't make sense as if "DTT customers will need a conditional access card" means BT Vision, they already know you're a BT customer and a card wouldn't be needed, would it?

Unless they have taken over ESPN's slots on TopUpTV, in which case maybe the card is actually a TopUpTV card, that can go into many Freeview TVs, and doesn't require a BT Vision or YouView box?

"Customers can watch BT Sport at home with a minimum line speed of 400kbps" - So I would say pretty poor in standard trim. Faster Fibre service is 50% dearer at £15pm with a £3pm HD movie pack. The offer is only open until 1st of August, After the 12 months tie-in the £10 package increases to £13, plus the usual activation fee, so probably a few stings in the tail up the road.

In reply to a post by Chrysalis:

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

The streaming will use MS Silverlight

ouch.

Whats atracting commercial media companies to that mess silverlight isnt even developed anymore microsoft have killed it, yet netflix, bt and sky all using it.

But still my question, will the pc streaming be some hashed down low bitrate stream or will it be full hd.

I've had Netflix for a year now watching on 50" panasonic and via PC and i have to say the picture quality is absolutely spot on, i honestly don't see your issue with it?

So do people actually believe that the stream will be a maximum of 400 Kbps on the web app streams?

According to the small print under a big BT ad for the service in the Express today, that is all you need to watch. Like most introductory offers, it does not mention applying to unlimited call & bb packages.
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/3752/btsport.jpg

Edited by professor973 (Fri 10-May-13 22:55:40)

It says minimum line speed, which means the lowest bit rate they are planning to service is 400 Kbps, It DOES NOT tell you the highest bit rate that they will serve via the service.

Mutliple bit rate streams are nothing new, and Silverlight supports that sort of thing.

On the unlimited, are you suggesting that you believe that unlmited BB customers will NOT have access to the BT Sport app and web site streaming?

I have already posted reference to the HD quality stream which is 50% more expensive, so did not think 400kbps the be all and end all. As for the Unlimited. Every reference I have seen applies to the limited BB option with charges for extra use. NO reference to free for unlimited use.

So web streams limited to 400 Kbps and free access not available to Unlimited broadband users?

Also how is the HD stream 50% more expensive? SD package for non BT customers is £12, for HD its £15.

For BT customers it is free for SD or £3 for HD.

SD streaming if jsut 400 Kbps would make BT a laughing stiock and would be well under the quality levels of other SD sources.

Fibre stream is £15 or £10 for copper. It is so confusing it could easily been written by Plusnet. I visited the sign up page, which does not actually tell you sport is free till you click it as an add on. It is the same with their phone now, no option 3. Anytime is just an add-on to the lesser packages, so they are what is usually referred to which confuses matters. Also, it is only free on tV if you already own a Sky, Youview or vision box, which can make it somewhat more expensive, though I don't know why I am worried, becausea s I said, I'll be sticking to Vipbox for free which does more than all the systems put together.

Edited by professor973 (Sat 11-May-13 00:02:42)

So the banner saying "Got BT Broadband? Enjoy the BT Sport app and online player FREE" in a big font is not visible when you are on the broadband package pages?

http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/products/broad...

It rather depends which paper you read. I've seen £10 and £15. I think we are taking BT at face value and getting confused. For example, today's stated you have to sing up by the 1st of August, with the next paragraph stating the offer ends the 31st of August?

Perhaps the news papers have got it wrong...and not BT.

£10 is the new price point for the 10GB ADSL2+ service
£15 is the new price point for Infinity 1 (40GB)

£12 is price of SD BT Sport if NOT a BT customer
£15 is price of HD BT Sport if NOT a BT customer

Not difficult

Nothing is free, but to get Sport reads as £10 to me, not £12. The topic was free sport, so BT customer prices was the way I was thinking.
http://img541.imageshack.us/img541/7770/bt10m.jpg

Edited by professor973 (Sat 11-May-13 00:01:16)

It is an advert for this product
http://www.thinkbroadband.com/isp/bt/package/1193.html

Yeah that's right, with free broadband. This is getting silly over something I would not buy into, so out of here.

thanks for finding that bit out, their website doesnt explain it so well.

andrew you can confirm here for sure the sign up by date doesnt to web streaming? that will simply just work with bt credentials? no signup process required for web streaming?

In reply to a post by Chrysalis:

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

The streaming will use MS Silverlight

ouch.

Whats atracting commercial media companies to that mess silverlight isnt even developed anymore microsoft have killed it, yet netflix, bt and sky all using it.

The last time I looked silverlight is the only stream where it's not possible to rip it. At least with free tools. If that has changed I'm all ears but that is possible why so many choose it. I don't have silverlight installed and don't plan on installing it, at least not untill BTSport offers something I actually want to watch (Full F1 Weekend in HD).

ok thanks

Actually FREE is not free!

BT Business Broadband customers are being quoted £75/month for BT Sport. Even though the adverts in the press, online and on the BT website say FREE to BT Broadband customers.

That will be for commercial use in pubs and such places.

No, that is for individuals that work from home. It has been confirmed in several calls and email.

The charges for a Pub/Club/Shop/Restaurant are based on the rateable value and floor space and could be significantly higher.

The only suggestion that they made was "convert to a residential connection" - but that cannot be done as the line is registered as a business, or to install a new line which will mean BB costs, line rental and the installation.

Yes BT Business Broadband customers DO NOT GET BT SPORT FOR FREE.

This is why consumer/residential BT Broadband customers or some other phrase have been used.

BT Business Broadband has Standard Broadband and Superfast Broadband products, so the key thing was the name of the products.

Again the BT Retail arm insistance that a business phone line have a business level service catches people out.

If you read the adverts carefully it actually says: BT Broadband Customers It does NOT mention Business, consumer or residential in any form.

I bet BT would reply

Yes

BT Broadband refers to consumer services
and
BT Business Broadband is what the products for business customers are referred to.

ASA if you believe it is misleading as per usual.

Most defenitly is misleading and also does spank of BT trying to milk business connections.

Sadly a winning ASA case isnt going to make it free, BT will just slightly amend advertising to same free on home broadband or similiar.

So there is no ultimate BT package.

Residential for unthrottled connection and inclusive sports.
Business for static ip, premium support but rate limited p2p/cloud and sports as expensive addon.

Would not a second residential line including BT Sports "free" be cheaper than adding BT Sports to a business line?

It would - but in the first year would still be around £35/month

Maybe part of the restriction is in the way the rights are negotiated?

thats a good point, it wouldnt surprise me as rights holders are known to have restrictions on media companies.