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Subscription-free TalkTalk TV Store makes 7,000 titles available on multiple devices.
TalkTalk on Tuesday launched a subscription-free video streaming service to take on the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Sky’s Now TV in the U.K.
Called TalkTalk TV Store, it offers a catalogue of 7,000 TV shows and films available to stream to several different devices, including iOS, Android, and Windows handsets, laptops, Google Chromecast, as well as Samsung and LG smart TVs.
Prices vary depending on whether the customer wants to rent a show or download and keep it. For example, renting Star Wars: The Force Awakens in standard definition will cost £3.45 (€4.45). Downloading it in high definition will cost £13.99.
The service is based on the online streaming service Blinkbox, which TalkTalk acquired from supermarket Tesco in January 2015, along with Tesco’s broadband business, in a deal worth £5 million.
The launch comes as U.K. telcos ramp up their rivalry in the content market by rolling out multiroom, multi-device TV services offering a broad range of films and TV shows.
"The launch of TalkTalk TV Store is an exciting step forward in our mission to offer the best film and TV content at Britain’s lowest price," said Aleks Hadbank, head of TalkTalk TV, in a statement.
Existing TalkTalk TV customers get the option to start watching a show via their set-top-box (STB) but continue watching on any one of up to five devices registered to their account. They can also watch one TV show or film on one device while streaming or downloading another on a different device.
"It’s all about choice and flexibility – you can opt for anything from Star Wars to Game of Thrones, only pay for what you watch, and switch easily between devices," said Hadbank. "It puts you back in control, as you can enjoy all the shows and movies you love on your own terms."
