BT TV customers with non-BT supplied second boxes are now being blocked from accessing subscription channels on their additional box.
The ISP’s YouView based TV service offers a mixture of Freeview channels, such as BBC One HD and Channel 4 HD, alongside optional pay channels including Watch, Universal and SyFy.
Although the method was never supported by BT, a number of users purchased second boxes from third party retailers so they could watch the subscription channels in another room.
BT has now begun blocking access to the channels on such boxes and customers turning over to them on an authorised box are being prompted to take out an ‘Extra Box’ subscription.
Access to the free channels and catch-up and third-party video on demand apps such as Sky Store and NowTV are unaffected by the move.
The ‘Extra Box’ service launched in June this year and requires customers to buy an additional box from BT for £99 and pay a £5pm subscription.