BT Vision announces deal with Future

BT has announced that Future will be working on entertainment content for BT Vision. Indeed, the guys working on it sit not far from us and include my good friend Holly. Here's the release.

-----Original Message-----
Sent: 21 September 2006 13:33
Subject: BT Press release - BT Vision announces editorial content deal with Future

September 21, 2006

BT VISION ANNOUNCES EDITORIAL CONTENT DEAL WITH FUTURE

BT announced today that Future Plus, the customer-publishing agency of Future Publishing, will be supplying editorial content for BT Vision, its next-generation TV-via-broadband service, which is due to launch in autumn 2006.

Under this agreement, Future will supply BT Vision's editorial requirements for the TV service to be launched later this year and the BT Vision online store. Future will provide news, independent reviews of entertainment and programme listings for the film, TV and music services.

Future will also support the editorial requirements of BT Vision's interactive services as they develop, including community forums, special-interest areas and reader-generated content along with user ratings and popularity charts. Future is putting together an eleven-strong editorial team to provide these services to BT Vision.

Dan Marks, CEO BT Vision, said: "Future has a great reputation for producing compelling content for its entertainment and technology websites and magazines and we're pleased it will be the editorial supplier for BT Vision. We will benefit from Future's wealth of experience in helping people understand and enjoy new technology and entertaining services."

Robert Price, managing director of Future, said: "We're delighted to be working with BT Vision to help bring its incredibly exciting on-demand TV service to life. We're looking forward to working with it to deliver an informative and entertaining guide to the vast range of film, music and television programming that this new service will offer."

At launch, BT Vision customers will be able to enjoy a vast range of film, music and television programming available on-demand as well as interactive services and all the Freeview channels, all available on the TV, with no compulsory subscription. This unique combination, delivered on a software platform powered by Microsoft and through a set-top box made by Philips, will allow customers choice, control and convenience.

BT Vision has already announced content deals with a range of leading entertainment companies including Dreamworks, i-concerts, Eagle Rock, BBC Worldwide, Paramount, Warner Music Group, National Geographic Channel, HIT Entertainment, Momentum, Universal, Nelvana and Turner Broadcasting; independents including Entertainment Rights plc, NBD Television, Wall to Wall Television as well as 'near-live' FA Premier League matches from the 2007/08 season.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

For further information on BT
Inquiries about this news release should be made to the BT Group Newsroom on its 24-hour number: 020 7356 5369. From outside the UK dial + 44 20 7356 5369. All news releases can be accessed at our web site: http://www.bt.com/newscentre

For further information on Future
Robert Price, Managing Director - 01225 442244 Terri Davey, Head of Communications - 01225 822774

About BT
BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include networked IT services, local, national and international telecommunications services, and higher-value broadband and internet products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.

In the year ended 31 March 2006, BT Group's revenue was £19,514 million with profit before taxation of £2,040 million.
British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.

For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt

About BT Vision
Due to launch in autumn 2006, BT Vision will combine access to digital-terrestrial channels through the aerial with broadband-powered video on demand. BT Vision customers will be able to choose from a wide range of on-demand film, music and television programming. The BT Vision download store launched on 31 July with 51 movies available for download to own from Universal studios.

The service will include:

* TV - access to over 30 Freeview channels
* Entertainment on demand - a huge library of movies, comedy, music and kids shows.
* Catch-up TV - enabling viewers to watch a selection of shows they may have missed, subject to rights agreements
* Digital Video Recorder - ability to store up to 80 hours of programming without tapes, timers or disks
* Communication and converged services - instant messaging, chat and video telephony all through the TV to commence after launch.
* The BT Vision Download store

About Future Plus

Future Plus is the award-winning customer publishing agency of Future plc, providing innovative cross-channel branded content and bespoke communications for its partners. In September 2006 it was named Marketing's fastest-growing customer publishing agency in the UK.

Future plc is an international special-interest media group with offices in the UK, US, France and Italy. Founded in 1985 with one UK magazine, today it creates over 150 special-interest publications, websites and events, with strong portfolios in the computing, games, music, film, automotive, sports and crafts sectors. Future's branded websites are the fifth fastest-growing in the UK by unique audience (source: Nielsen/NetRatings May 2006). Over 100 international editions of Future's magazines are also published under licence in 30 other countries across the world. Future employs over 1,500 people worldwide. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol FUTR).

For more information, visit www.futureplus.co.uk