BT Vision offers free film rental in ad trial

BT Group’s IPTV service, BT Vision, has launched a trial of a new service which offers customers free rental of 3 films from the BT Vision Download Store, in return for watching targeted advertisements.

The company worked with Intel Corporation, Hiro Media and FremantleMedia to develop the trial.

Customers are asked to download free video software from Hiro Media when they rent the films, which they are then allowed to keep for a one month period. Hiro specialises in Internet ad-supported video download technology.

Customers can even share the films with friends and family, who will also be asked to provide information, and will be able to borrow the films on the same terms.

When renting the films, customers are asked for anonymous demographic information which allows the software to select adverts according to the information supplied by the customer. The adverts will be shown during breaks in the films.

The BT Vision Download Store is available to all UK broadband subscribers, no matter what ISP they are with.