The BBC has launched a beta version of its Connected Red Button service on a range of Smart TVs manufactured by Samsung and Sony. The beta will be extended to LG Smart TVs in the next few weeks.
The successor to the linear Red Button streams, which in recent months have been gradually withdrawn, Connected Red Button went live on Virgin Media in December 2012.
Despite this Red Button is still used by some 13 million people every week.
Viewers with enabled smart TVs will have access to additional content from BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC Four and BBC News, using the familiar Red Button.
Its planned to add further content including lottery results, detailed weather forecasts and improved functionality. The BBC will also extend the service to other Smart TV platforms in the future.
Roux Joubert, general manager, Products & On Demand at the BBC, said: “Since the launch of Connected Red Button in 2012, the BBC has brought audiences more of the content they love on their TV – by simply pressing red. We’re thrilled to extend this to even more viewers – and look forward to adding more features and functionality in 2014 – which promises to be another an epic year of live events from the BBC.”
Guy Kinnell, Head of TV & AV at Samsung Electronics UK & Ireland, added: “Following the success of BBC News, BBC Sport and BBC iPlayer on the Samsung Smart Hub, we’re excited to welcome another great BBC service to the platform. BBC Connected Red Button will provide Samsung customers with a wealth of interactive services from the comfort of the living room all whilst enhanced by the premium picture quality and revolutionary product design of our Smart TVs.”
A list of models released by the BBC shows several dozen models across the three manufacturers, but only going back as far as Samsung’s 2012 models and those launched by Sony and LG in 2013.
