BT to Scrap BT Vision Broadband IPTV Box and Replace it with YouView

Customers of the BT TV service have been told that the operator intends to “close” their original silver BTVision broadband IPTV box service. Owners of the related set top box devices will instead be offered an upgrade to the new YouView based STB kit “at no extra cost“, but you’ll have to re-contract both your TV and broadband for another 18 months first.

The move is hardly a surprise and it would be easy to argue that the writing for this change has been on the wall ever since BT decided to get involved with YouView and launch a related product during late 2012. Meanwhile those who choose not to adopt the YouView+ box have been warned that the service will “stop working” by 30th June 2014.

Unfortunately this development also means that existing customers stand to lose any of the recordings they’ve made on the BT Vision+ box, but it’s all good because BT recommends that you solve this by watching them all back before you switch. Thanks very much indeed.

The good news is that any TV or Film purchases you made should swap over some 72 hours after plugging the new YouView box in, although you’ll lose Box Office rentals.

BT Newsletter Statement

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 who choose to re-contract are advised to send the old STB back to BT, although the operator says that those who are too lazy to do this can always just “dispose of it yourself“. It should be noted that the old BTVision box will automatically “stop working shortly after you plug in your new YouView+ box“, so you really must watch all those recordings back before you do it.

The move comes only days after BT appointed ex-Sky veteran Delia Bushell to take the reins as Managing Director of its TV and BTSport division (here). Bushell replaces Marc Watson whom previously held the position, albeit with more control as a CEO, before his sudden exit last month (here). We’d probably have given people more time to adapt to today’s change but that’s just us.