BT launches buy-to-keep movies service

BT is the first pay-TV provider in the UK to offer movies to buy-to-keep as well as rent.

Customers will now be able to buy many of the latest blockbusters from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, along with a selection of modern greats and classics, on BT’s YouView box.

The top titles available to buy in Digital HD and SD, include The Wolverine, DreamWorks Animation’s Turbo (from February 17) and The Croods from Fox; Elysium, Captain Phillips (from February 10) and The Smurfs 2 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, as well as customer favourites such as The Social Network, Alien franchise, Black Swan, Jerry Maguire. Library prices start from as little as £8.99 for films in Digital HD and £5.99 for SD.

Movies bought from BT are streamed instantly to the customer’s YouView set-top box and they can keep them indefinitely and watch them as many times as they like. BT intends to expand the service to include TV box sets over the coming months.

Alex Green, 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, UK managing director, 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 favourite movies in Digital HD.”

Pete Wood, SVP, International Digital Distribution, 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.”

Films are especially popular with BT customers, with a film being rented through BT Box Office every minute. Hundreds of the latest films are available on BT Box Office months before becoming available on NOW TV, LOVEFiLM Instant and Netflix.

BT Box Office offers more than 600 films (with many of the top blockbusters available in HD) and has a partnership with Curzon Home Cinema where customers can watch many of the top titles on the same day as their cinema release.