The BBC has launched a trial version of its next-generation online Red Button on Sony smart TVs with Samsung and LG next in line.
The Connected Red Button combines both Red Button broadcast services with extra video and other services provided over your broadband connection.
It launched in 2012 on Virgin Media TiVo, and provides up to 10 featured BBC iPlayer programmes, news, sport and weather highlights, and children’s shows.
Read Recombu Digital’s guide to the BBC Red ButtonJennifer Lyons of BBC Future Media said: “Connected Red Button brings the best of the Red Button and the BBC online to your TV by simply pressing red.
“The service offers a lot more content including BBC TV programmes via BBC iPlayer as well as live events and the latest news, sport and weather, yet is powerfully simple for anyone to use.”
The Connected Red Button system is designed to be easier to export to different services, using HTML and JavaScript.
It’s live on selected Sony smart TVs, with LG and Samsung models coming by the end of the year or in early 2014 – here’s a list of the selected smart TVs.
Users can choose between the standard Red Button interface and the Connected Red Button beta trial when they press the red button on any BBC channel.
The BBC said it’s committed to supporting the 13 million people using the standard red button service each week as well as developing new services using broadband as well as broadcast TV.
The full Connected Red Button line-up is:
- TV: access up to 10 BBC iPlayer programmes from the channel you are watching or explore the full iPlayer.
- News: the latest UK news and select headlines to read, with videos and a link to the ‘News home’ online news portal.
- Sport: live sport and highlights, with sport headlines and a link to ‘Sport home’ to access the dedicated BBC Sport application.
- Weather: the latest 5 day forecast for your location
- CBBC and CBeebies: up to 10 featured BBC iPlayer highlights
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