BT has announced plans to close down its classic BT Vision service and move customers to its new YouView-based offering.
The ISP and broadcaster is in the process of contacting customers with an original silver BT Vision set top box and offering them a free YouView+ box in return for re-contracting their TV and Broadband for 18 months.
In a statement posted on its website, BT says the decision to mothball its older TV service was made “to make sure we can continue to improve the TV service we offer our customers”.
It adds: “We’ve improved our BT TV service since we launched with the original silver box. To continue to deliver a good TV service to you and to simplify BT TV we’ve decided to remove our original service.
“To thank the customers who have stuck with us since we launched BT TV we’re offering an upgrade to YouView at no extra cost (worth £199) when you re-contract your BT TV and BT Broadband for 18 months. Swapping to a BT TV YouView+ box will mean that you can keep watching the TV you love.”
Customers have until June 30th to make the switch before their current box is disabled.
BT TV users with a YouView or black BT Vision boxes are unaffected and will continue to receive their usual TV services.