BT TV to offer Vice channels in bid to bolster its youth appeal
BT has secured a deal with Vice Media to give its customers access to the youth channel’s content on live and on-demand TV.
The partnership, which comes into effect next week, will give BT TV customers access to Vice on TV, a lifestyle and entertainment channel offering documentaries about popular culture and current affairs.
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Vice’s programmes, which include hit documentary Hate Thy Neighbour and a new two-hour nightly news show called Vice Live, will be available on BT’s linear TV channel, as well as on its catch-up platform and smartphone app.
Andy Haworth, managing director for content and strategy for BT’s consumer division, said: “Our partnership with Vice Media gives BT customers a range of brilliantly diverse, engaging and original shows on Vice to add to our exciting TV offering.
“Vice joins a brilliant line-up of the world’s best partners and unrivalled content for BT TV customers – from services like Amazon Prime, Netflix, Now TV and BBC iPlayer to world class sport, drama and entertainment through BT Sport, AMC and UK TV.”
The move comes as broadcasters scramble to stay relevant amid growing competition from on-demand streaming services.
Last year UK subscriptions to Netflix, Amazon and Now TV overtook pay-TV services for the first time, with young viewers most likely to shun traditional broadcasters.
BBC and ITV recently revealed plans to team up for the launch of Britbox, an on-demand streaming platform they hope will rival US giants such as Netflix.
Yesterday BBC director general Tony Hall warned the corporation must adapt to its viewers’ changing demands or risk “irrelevance”.
Read more: BBC ‘risks irrelevance’ unless it can catch up to Netflix
CJ Fahey, general manager of Vice TV and Studios, said: “We are delighted to have inked a new partnership with BT, meaning that our new TV channel has now reached full distribution across the UK and making our content available to even more viewers.
“We look forward to working in partnership with BT to growing our audience and allowing viewers to access our programming across a range of platforms and services.”