UK ISP PlusNet Opens YouView TV Trials to Unlimited Fibre Customers

As expected PlusNet has started to move forward with its plans to launch a YouView (IPTV) based TV product to their UK broadband customers by opening up the closed staff trial to existing customers with an Unlimited Fibre (FTTC) package.

The ISPs parent company, BT, last month hinted that it was looking to make the YouView service available via PlusNet in order to help them compete against TalkTalk’s low-cost options (here).

Customers that participate in the new free 3 month trial, which could be extended, will be provided with a Humax set-top-box and access to premium TV channels including BT Sport 1, BT Sport 2, ESPN, SyFy, Universal, E! and Fox.

Rob Perkins, Head of TV at PlusNet, said:

“This is an exciting step forward for Plusnet and these trials will ensure Plusnet can gain crucial feedback to ensure it launches the best service it can to a wider customer base later in the year.”

Participating customers, whom will be required to use the service and provide feedback through short web-surveys when requested (likely to occur more than twice a month), will need to ensure that they can achieve a 15Mbps minimum download speed and have a working TV aerial. At the end of the trial the YouView box can either be returned or kept as part of a paid service.

Sadly there’s no specific date for the trial to begin, with PlusNet vaguely hinting towards it being “in the new year“. Customers who want to give it a go are asked to log-in and complete an application form here – http://trials.plus.net.