Quickflix extends services to Freeview customers

Video streaming service Quickflix will begin to offer its service to Freeview customers, the company announced today.

The service, due to launch in early 2013, will be available to Freeview viewers with compatible MyFreeview HD boxes and Freeview-enabled TVs.

Choosing the Quickflix channel on your remote control will take you to an interactive channel which will host the company’s video streaming catalogue. Both pay-per-view and subscription options will be available. From there, users will be able to browse the catalogue and sign into their Quickflix accounts to access content.

“I don’t want you to turn to channel 200 and you’re prompted to sign in and you can’t see anything unless you’re a Quickflix subscriber,” said Quickflix managing director Paddy Buckley.

The interactive channel is made possible by a license-free technology called MHEG, which allows a switch from broadcast over-the-air technology to app-like channels delivered by broadband.

The technology is also employed by Freeview UK and Freeview Australia.

Quickflix should work on most Freeview devices sold since the beginning of 2011, but some of the “less sophisticated” ones would not be capable, said Buckley.

Quickflix estimates there are 500,000 devices already on the market that will be capable of accessing its service.

“Half a million Kiwis will have access to our subscription and pay-per-view movie and TV streaming service so this is a big development for television consumers in this country,” Buckley said.

Since Quickflix requires the Freeview box to be connected to broadband, boxes without an internet connection will not be able to access the service. However Buckley said he was not sure that all internet-connected devices would be able to access Quickflix.