BBC launches Connected Red Button service

The new service is available now in around 1.2 million homes with Virgin Media’s TiVo boxes, and will be rolled out to other internet-connected TVs over the coming months.

The move comes shortly after the BBC scaled back its Red Button video streams on Freesat, Sky and Virgin from five to just one, with the aim of replacing these linear channels with internet streams that can be accessed via web-connected TVs.

BBC Connected Red Button enables viewers to:

• Watch programmes from BBC children’s channels, BBC Three and BBC Four anytime – day or night – even if the channel is off-air
• Effortlessly catch up on previous episodes of the shows you love and discover new gems
• Get closer to the latest sporting action, with more streams, clips and content from your favourite events
• Immerse yourself in news and weather headlines and clips that matter to you, when you want them, all at the touch of a button

With new functionality and features added to the service over time, the BBC hopes that the Connected Red Button will redefine how audiences watch, engage and interact with content on their TV.

The BBC has developed its red button services over the past 13 years, and the Connected Red Button will be new way for sports fans to access the BBC’s multi-streams coverage of major events, such as the Olympics, Wimbledon, Formula 1, snooker and The Open Championship.

BBC Red Button continues to attract an audience of 20 million per month, peaking during this summer’s London 2012 Olympic Games, where 24.2 million viewers watched up to 24 live streams via the red button.

A 24-live stream service was made available on digital platforms and via the BBC Sport website as part of the corporation’s promise to deliver live coverage of every session of every sport during the Games.

With predictions that by the end of 2016 there will be almost 22 million connectable TVs installed in the UK, and that over 50 per cent of UK TV households will have a connectable primary set – either directly or via a set top box, BBC Connected Red Button will give viewers even more reason to connect their TV, and provide a platform to make BBC TV, radio and online content more interactive and engaging in the future.

The multiscreen services for live sporting events will continue to be available online, meaning that viewers without access to connected TV services will be able to view them on their PCs, laptops and mobile devices via the BBC Sport website, and on the BBC Sport app on PS3s consoles.

In a post on the BBC Internet Blog, Matt Coulson said, “Twenty million people a month press red on the BBC and our ambition is to develop the service and increase the size of our audience.

“Throughout 2012 the BBC has also been engaging with a number of TV manufacturers and platform operators regarding our connected TV application plans and the related technical specifications and certification requirements. 

“We’ll be rolling out Connected Red Button to a range of connected TV devices during 2013 and in many cases 2012 TVs will also be upgraded to Connected Red Button.

“Over time, as audiences use televisions and set-top boxes which are increasingly connected we expect to migrate them from the traditional Red Button to the new Connected Red Button.”

Daniel Danker, General Manager, BBC Programmes and On-Demand, says: “With today’s launch of BBC Connected Red Button, the BBC is seamlessly bringing the Internet together with live TV, while making the technology completely invisible.

“This is red button reinvented, and the beginning of the exciting future of television.”

Victoria Jaye, Head of IPTV & TV Online Content, says: “With BBC Connected Red Button, we’re starting with the TV audience who love our broadcast output and we’re curating online content on the big screen in ways that add value to their TV viewing.

“The audience can sit back and relax – the internet just made TV better.”