Cable TV, satellite TV and digital TV packages BT Vision
BT Vision lets you bundle BT broadband with TV
Minimum cost £60 for the Vision+ box or free if you subscribe to one of BT's Value packs on a 24-month contract.
BT Total Broadband is required to view BT Vision at a minimum cost of £18.00 a month, and you'll also need to pay for BT line rental.
Pros You can choose between paying subscription charges or paying per programme for on-demand content, and you can change options at any time. It offers good-value extra content for football fans.
Cons You can’t buy the digital TV service separately. Broadband is subject to a minimum 18-month contract. BT's bundles all have 18-month minimum term contracts.
See how the BT Vision box compares with equipment from Virgin and Sky in the Which? PVR review.
What is BT Vision?
BT Vision combines on-demand content with Freeview channels. The on-demand content can either be paid for in monthly subscription fees or on a pay-per-programme basis.
It's a good option if you're looking for a broadband service and digital TV with the option of on-demand content. It's also good if you're looking for flexible TV pricing.
If you sign up to BT Vision you get all of the channels available on Freeview, plus a selection of on-demand or pay-per-view TV, including entertainment, music and kids' programmes, as well as sporting events and films.
BT Vision TV content
BT Vision divides extra content into the following viewing packs:
- Kids Kids' programmes and shows
- Music Music videos and concerts
- Vision Sport Non-live Premier League and Moto GP
- Film Club 28 films each month.
BT Bronze Value Pack:
- Costs £12.50 a month plus line rental
- TV & TV Replay plus two other viewing packs.
BT Silver Value Pack:
- Costs £12.50 a month plus line rental
- TV & TV Replay plus three other viewing packs.
BT Gold Value Pack:
- Costs £12.50 a month plus line rental
- TV & TV Replay and all viewing packs.
Films are available from BT Vision's library at a cost of between £2 and £3.50 a film. A small number of films are available to watch in HD, at a cost of £4.99 for new releases or £2.99 for older films. You'll need an HD-ready TV to watch anything in high definition.
Check out the Which? TV review to see how the latest HD TVs do in our tests.
Optional extras on BT Vision
If you choose one of BT’s Value packs you can also opt for a number of extras available on one-month contracts.
Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2 are available separately at a cost of £12.30 a month each. Alternatively, you could take both for £17.40 a month. Bollywood fans can take Bolly and Beyond for £7.20 a month.
ESPN is available for a one-off fee of £9.99. It shows live football from the Barclays Premier League and European leagues, such as Italian Serie A and the German Bundesliga.
BT broadband and phone bundles
BT's broadband bundles give you up to at least 20Mbps download speed and phone bundles include a minimum of free evening and weekend calls to UK landlines. BT's broadband and TV bundles start from £23.98 a month. All BT’s advertised bundles are subject to an 18-month contract.
If you're interested in BT Vision but don't want to pay a monthly fee for the on-demand content, you could be better off with one of BT's phone and broadband bundles from £13.99 a month (you'll need to add line rental) and accessing additional content on a pay-as-you-go basis.
For more information see the Which? phone, internet and TV package review.
BT Vision equipment
When you sign up to BT Vision you'll get the Vision+ box. It's a PVR that will give you access to Freeview channels and BT's on-demand content and allow you to record up to 160 hours of programmes.
If you cancel the service before the minimum term, charges of up to £199 may apply.
BT Vision availability
BT Vision is available in most Freeview areas, set to rise to 98.5% after digital switchover. The Which? guide to digital switchover will tell you when your area will be switching over.
The minority of people who can’t reach fast enough broadband speeds may struggle to access BT’s additional content.
