Vodafone Launches TV Streaming Hub to Challenge UK Pay TV

Vodafone will launch Vodafone TV in October, a bundled entertainment service in the United Kingdom designed to compete with traditional pay TV providers such as Sky, Virgin Media, EE, and BT. The service integrates live television, streaming platforms, gaming, and music into a single interface to simplify subscription management.

The platform utilizes a puck-style set-top box powered by Android TV, supporting 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos. By incorporating the Freely free-TV service, the hub provides over 150 live channels via the internet, eliminating the need for a satellite dish or aerial. The hardware also offers over 300 cloud-streamed games at launch and integrates Google Assistant and AI-driven smart search.

At launch, the service includes subscriptions to Netflix Standard with Ads and HBO Max Standard with Ads at no extra cost. Customers can further expand their content through Vodafone Subscription+, which allows the addition of Disney+, YouTube Premium, Amazon Prime Video, and Spotify on a 30-day rolling basis. The service also includes a movie rental option via Vodafone Box Office.

Initially available to existing mobile and broadband customers, the rollout coincides with the deployment of 5G+ FastTrack network technology via the SuperMobile offering. Users can access content through the dedicated set-top box or a companion mobile app for cross-device viewing.