Everything you need to know about BT Television

Part 1

What BT Youview Channels do I get?

BT TV consists of multiple choices. The first choice is to opt only for the free TV channels (known as TV Starter) through a supplied Youview box. For this you will need a TV aerial system already installed to pick up Freeview channels. Also the Youview box you will get will be unable to record TV programmes (Unless you subscribe to BT Infinity).

Here is the list of Free BT TV Channels :-

BBC One, BBC Two, UTV (NI only), STV (Scotland only), ITV (England & Wales only), Channel 4, S4C (Wales only), Channel 5, ITV2, BBC Three, BBC Alba (Scotland only), BBC Four, ITV3,
Pick TV, Dave, Channel 4+1, More 4, Film4, QVC, Really, 4Music, Yesterday, Drama, VIVA, Ideal World, ITV4, ITVBe, ITV2+1, E4, E4+1, 5 *, 5 USA, Movie Mix, ITV +1, STV+1 (Scotland only),
UTV+1 (NI only), ITV3+1, QVC Beauty, Create & Craft, Quest, Quest+1, Rocks & Co, Travel Channel, Gems TV, Channel 5+1, Film4+1, Challenge, 4seven, Food Network UK, The Jewellery, Channel, Channel 5+24, True Entertainment, Jewellery Maker, CBS Reality, Chart Show TV, TruTV, Motors, Pop, BBC News, BBC Parliament, Sky News, Al Jazeera English, Russia Today, Community Channel, BBC One HD, BBC Two HD, ITV HD, STV HD (Scotland only), Channel 4 HD, Community HD, Channel 4+1 HD, 4seven HD, CBBC, CBBC HD, CBeebies HD, BBC Red Button.

YouView Radio Channels

BBC Radio 1
BBC 1 Xtra
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 4
BBC 5 Live
BBC 5 Live Sports Extra
BBC 6 Music
BBC Radio 4 Extra
BBC Asian Network
BBC World Service
The Hits Radio
Smash! Hits Radio
Kiss Fresh
Kiss
Heat
Kisstory
Magic
Q
Smooth Radio
BBC Radio Scotland (Scotland only)
BBC Radio Ulster (NI only)
BBC Radio Wales (Wales only)
BBC Radio nan Gàidheal (Scotland only)
BBC Radio Cymru (Wales only)
BBC Radio Foyle (NI only)
Kerrang!
TalkSPORT
Capital FM
Premier Radio
U105 Radio
Absolute Radio
Heart

Not every channel is guaranteed as it depends on coverage in your particular area. If you are a BT Infinity customer then BT Sport and Sky Sports are available on demand for TV Starter pack customers. You can also enjoy up to 7 days catch-up TV on this package. On demand may also be available to you with Infinity.

Your second choice would be the TV Essential pack. This is about the best you can get WITHOUT BT Infinity. The TV Essential package is an option for customers with just standard BT Broadband.

The channel list is as above except you also get tasters from the premium channels (which I will list next) and possibly the option for BT Sport through a Youview+ box on which you can also record. If you have SKY TV you can opt to have BT Sport streamed through your satellite box. The TV Essentials pack also includes the catch up TV and On Demand options.

Now for the cream of the crop of standard TV packages available on BT Television. It is currently called the TV Entertainment pack. It consists of 20 Channels (listed below) and is currently only £5 per month for new customers (January 2015). This package is only available to customers with BT Infinity as the channels are only available over the Internet.

BT TV Entertainment Channels

Alibi, Animal Planet, CI, Comedy Central, Discovery, Fox, History, MTV, National Geographical channel, Nat Geo Wild, Universal, WatchE, ID, British Eurosport, EuroSport 2, Gold, Sony Entertainment, Syfy and TLC. BT Sport 1 and 2 plus ESPN are still also included free of charge for BT Broadband customers.

All BT Infinity Customers who take up BT TV have access to 7 days of catch up TV from the following Apps:-

BBC iPlayer

ITV Player

4oD

Demand 5

STV Player (Scotland only)

milkshake!

UKTV

S4C

Quest

As well as Pay per View Channels.

Optional upgrades include the Kids Bolt on and a Music Bolt On. Each costing £3 per month. The latter includes Karaoke features while the former provides 9 additional channels when bout with the TV Entertainment Package. Extra channels are :-

Disney Channel

Disney Junior

Disney XD

Nickelodeon

Nick Junior

Nick Toons

Boomerang

Cartoon Network

Cartoonito

A large On Demand selection is also available to Infinity customers through a Youview+ box, including Now TV, SKY, BT rentals and Netflix.

Part 2 coming soon.