US film and TV streaming service Netflix has become the latest content provider to join YouView, the broadcaster and ISP backed connected TV platform.
As well as free to air (aerial) channels, the platform offers a range of catch-up players such as iPlayer and Demand5, plus optional pay-content including Sky Store, the broadcaster’s pay per view movie service.
Customers can buy YouView subscription free from a retailer, or from TalkTalk and BT who both offer a subsidised box and additional pay channels in return for a fixed-term subscription.
Netflix is available from today on both retail Humax boxes and BT supplied boxes and will be available on boxes from TalkTalk “early in the new year.”
The streaming service, which offers unlimited TV and movie viewing for a £5.99 per month subscription, has consistently topped YouView users’ list of most wanted new features.
Announcing it’s arrival, Richard Halton, YouView CEO, said: “Netflix is a brilliant addition to our already impressive line-up of TV programming. We are really excited about Netflix and giving YouView audiences even more choice.”
Bill Holmes, head of business development at Netflix said: “We’re very excited to bring the Netflix app to YouView boxes and hope to make it even easier for Netflix members with YouView to watch Netflix on their television sets.”
Joining YouView gives Netflix access to around a million new home, many of which may be attracted to the idea of watching its growing library of exclusive first run programming, including House of Cards, on their big screen TVs.
The service will compete with Channel 4’s ad-supported 4oD which offers complete boxsets of both recent programmes and ‘deep archive’ content, some of which it also sells to Netflix.
Netflix’s addition has been made possible by YouView’s recently added support for HTML 5 which will also allow boxes to run the BBC’s Connected Red Button service.
Work to enable both services has been in development for some months.
Netflix is already available to Virgin Media customers which is currently offering 6 months free access to new and upgrading customers taking its TiVo set top box.
Last week BT announced its customers would be able to add the monthly cost to their standard phone and broadband bill.
