BT Launches Buy-to-Keep Movie Service

LONDON: BT has become the first U.K. pay-TV provider to offer movies on a buy-to-keep basis as well as to rent.

Through BT's YouView box, customers are able to buy many of the latest movies from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, along with a selection of classics and modern hits. This includes The Wolverine, DreamWorks Animation's Turbo and The Croods from Fox; Elysium, Captain Phillips and The Smurfs 2 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment; and other films such as The Social Network, the Alien franchise, Black Swan and Jerry Maguire.

The films purchased from BT are streamed instantly to the customer's YouView set-top box. BT is planning to expand this service to include TV box sets over the coming months.

Alex Green, the director of BT TV, said: “We are delighted to have reached this agreement with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

“The new service gives you even more choice. You can buy the latest blockbusters and they’re yours to keep forever. And you can watch them as many times as you like.”

Robert Price, the U.K. managing director for 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, said: “BT TV’s new service complements Fox’s strategy of fostering easy, affordable and accessible ways for film fans to enjoy their favorite movies in digital HD.”

Pete Wood, the senior VP of international digital distribution of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, said: “We’re excited to partner with BT TV. It’s great to be able to offer customers the newest Sony Pictures Home Entertainment films, and we look forward to growing our relationship with BT TV.”