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What is BT Vision?

Our digital TV expert says...

Dear Rachel, unfortunately, your options are limited if you really don’t want to get a dish for Sky (www.sky.co.uk).

However, as you're already a BT customer, you could get BT Vision (www.bt.vision.co.uk), the digital TV service from the broadband giant. Using your BT broadband connection, it delivers digital TV channels and on-demand TV to a set top box, using your TV aerial to deliver Freeview channels and your telephone line for on-demand TV.

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What does BT Vision offer?

You can have BT Vision as an essentially free digital TV service offering Freeview channels and no monthly fees, though you will still have to live in a Freeview area and will have to pay full price for your Vision+ set top box.

Although your digital switchover date isn’t until 2012, you would still be able to receive channels, according to Digital UK, the organisation leading the switchover, though you might suffer from poor reception.

Many customers go for a digital TV package from BT Vision, which gives you all the standard Freeview channels - if you can get them - plus a choice of different viewing packs covering Music, Kids, Sport, PictureBox Film, which are delivered via your home broadband line and won’t be affected by Freeview issues.

BT Vision offers three packages; Bronze, Silver and Gold, with TV and Replay included with each one and an option of two, three or all four viewing packs depending on your tariff.

How do I get BT Vision?

You can only get BT Vision if you're a BT Broadband customer and get a download speed of at least 2Mb. If you're not already a BT customer you can sign up to a bundle that includes both broadband and BT Vision.

Will BT Vision affect my broadband service?

You can only get BT Vision if you get at least a 2Mb download speed from your BT Total Broadband. This is to ensure that your broadband connection isn’t affected by your digital TV service.

Are any other options available?

At present, the only other way for you to expand your viewing options is to have a dish installed and sign up to either Freesat or Sky. Although this isn’t something that you want to do at the moment, it would mean that you don’t have to worry about not being in a Freeview area, and offer a huge amount of TV options.

Ask us a question

If you have a general switching or provider query please email us at ourexpert@digitalchoices.co.uk