BT’s TV customers will be able to rent major international films on the same day as their cinema release thanks to a new deal with Curzon cinemas.
The films will be available on a Pay Per View basis on both Vision+ and YouView from BT boxes via a branded Curzon Home Cinema section in BT’s On Demand portal.
The first major film released simultaneously on Curzon Home Cinema and in cinemas to appear on BT TV will be the critically acclaimed The Selfish Giant on October 25.
Directed by Clio Barnard, the film is a contemporary fable about two teenage boys who get caught up in the world of copper theft.
The film is competing in this year’s London Film Festival with its two young stars, Conner Chapman and Shaun Thomas, both nominated for “Best British Newcomer”.
Other titles due to be available through Curzon Home Cinema include What Maisie Knew, acclaimed Singapore-set Irish psycho-thriller Mister John, and The Selfish Giant.
As well as the chance to see films while they’re playing at cinemas, the deal gives BT TV viewers access to titles on the same day as their DVD release, plus exclusive curated seasons and filmmaker retrospectives from Curzon Home Cinema.
Films available on the same day as their cinema release will cost £10, other titles will cost from £3 in HD and £2.50 in SD.
Mel Alcock, COO of Curzon, said: “We are delighted to announce this new and exciting partnership with BT. It’s a wonderful way to bring Curzon’s respected content to a bigger audience and we look forward to watching our relationship with BT grow in the coming months.”
Alex Green, director of TV, BT Consumer, said: “Films are fantastically popular with BT TV customers – they watch well over two million movies on demand every month. This exciting deal will give our customers the opportunity to see some of the very best films from Britain and around the world – many on the same day they go on release in the cinema.”