Orange TV ready for UK launch?

Telecoms company, Orange, is believed to be ready to launch its long awaited IPTV service in the UK.

The service was expected to launch in summer 2007, but was delayed and is still being trialed.

Orange has been evasive on a launch date, despite saying that it hoped the UK service would emulate the success it has had in France.

However, there are now reports that trials of the broadband TV service have been extended across the UK, in preparation for an imminent launch.

The UK IPTV market is expected to be tougher than the French one for Orange, because of the dominance of Sky and Virgin in the pay TV sector.

Orange has recently ramped up its service in France with the addition of five, new, free channels – Art Channel, No Life, AB Moteurs, Record News and Girondins TV, which focuses on the Bordeaux football club.

It has also introduced new pay-TV options in France.