UPC launches catch-up, box set and film service

UPC WILL bring on-demand television to its digital customers from Friday, the company said.

The new service, to be rolled out on a phased basis, will offer television “catch-up” services, series box sets and movie rentals to customers through their digital set-top boxes.

Unveiling the service yesterday, UPC chief executive Dana Strong said the investment was the beginning of more innovative products for its customers. Describing the service as a “game changer”, Ms Strong said the investment built on UPC’s €500 million investment in its fibre network here.

“We’re bringing innovation to TV for Ireland,” she said. “We’re here because of the investment UPC has put into the ground and into customers’ homes with its fibre power. After many, many months of building the service and content negotiations, it really is a groundbreaking and unique service that only UPC can offer.”

Dublin-based customers will benefit first, with the on-demand service going live for them tomorrow. Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford will follow at the end of July, UPC said.

Customers on UPC’s basic digital package will have access to the TV3 and RTÉ catch-up services, with TG4 set to follow soon.

“To integrate seamlessly RTÉ and TV3 players and soon the TG4 player, into their TV experience, it makes it so much more convenient than having to go elsewhere and get online,” Ms Strong said.

Those on the more expensive digital packages – Select and Max – will also be able to watch box sets from ITV, BBC and US channels free of charge. Some 1,300 hours of programming will be available.

Movie rentals, available to all digital TV customers, will attract a small fee, ranging from €4.99 for new releases (€5.99 for HD versions) to €1.99 for library titles (€2.49 for HD). The charges for movie rentals will be added to a customer’s UPC bill.

As it is delivered through UPC’s digital boxes, the service will not require a broadband connection and will not impact on a customer’s broadband allowance, unlike other streaming services.

“There’s always an opportunity to bring more content partners on board. But we have all the major Hollywood studios, BBC, ITV, CBS. So we’re pretty pleased with where it’s at,” said Ms Strong.

“I think from here we’ll be watching what people use. We’ll be tweaking what our offering is.”