BT launches album streaming service on BT TV with Universal music

BT TV customers will be able to play albums from top current artists as part of their TV subscription, following a pioneering deal with Universal Music. 

Hundreds of thousands of BT TV customers will be able to enjoy lots of the latest albums from the music company’s headline stars. Existing TV Unlimited customers will have this Music bolt-on included in their subscription and new TV customers can add it for £3 a month. 

The new service is a boost to BT’s existing Music service, which already offers around 2,500 music videos, karaoke and concerts. 

Now customers can play a whole album in the background as they get on with their busy lives – but unlike other audio streaming services it is advert-free and included in the price of their TV subscription. 

Alex Green, director of BT TV, said: “We are really excited to have signed this contract with Universal Music and we are hopeful we can sign other deals with more labels in the near future. 
“This takes our Music offering to another level, at no additional cost to customers. It will allow them to enjoy a whole album at times when they are not necessarily able to sit down and watch the TV.” 

The innovative new service is BT’s biggest step in developing a service that offers on-demand music via the TV. Sky does not currently offer its own music service, Virgin Media only offers an introductory discount on a Spotify subscription and TalkTalk’s service does not offer full albums. 

As well as the latest, big-name artists’ albums, the service also offers an extensive library of classic albums. 

BT has already started to email its BT TV customers to highlight the new service and to offer it as an option to customers building their own subscription package. 

The enhanced Music offering is part of BT TV’s recent efforts to ramp up its overall proposition. Last month the company announced new HD and Kids channels available over Infinity. BT also announced a deal with Curzon Home Cinema that allows customers to watch lots of films much earlier than usual, at the same time as their cinema release. 

In addition, BT TV’s recent deal with BSkyB means BT customers can now add Sky Movies channels* for £16 a month. 

*11 Sky Movies channels & video on demand bolt-on available to BT Infinity customers only. Sky Movies video on demand bolt-on available to BT Broadband customers. Excludes Sky Movies Premiere+1, MGM and may exclude subsequent channel launches. Both available on a one month minimum term and cost £16 a month.