UK cellco EE is launching a streaming video service for its mobile phone customers. The service, called EE Film Club, will offer subscribers access to the Wuaki. TV app movie library, with each movie costing £1 to download.
“More people than ever before are downloading and streaming movies so they can watch at home or on the go,” said Pippa Dunn, chief marketing officer at EE. With 1 in 3 UK adults enjoying digital entertainment every week – and this number is only going to grow – our viewing habits are clearly evolving.”
The movie rental service is available to EE (were once Orange and T-Mobile customers, but soon to be owned by BT) in the UK. Subscribers will be able to launch movies using Wuaki.TV apps and via a browser. Subscribers will also be able to use the service on a TV set with EE’s newly launched EE TV box. Wuaki.TV offers a library of releases from Hollywood studios, including Warner, Disney, Sony and Fox. EE called Wuaki.TV Europe’s “fastest growing digital entertainment streaming service.”
“We have already seen phenomenal growth in our customer base as mobile device streaming soars,” said Vincent Petersen, UK country director at Wuaki.TV. “We know that almost a third of our customers already stream their movies to mobile and tablet devices highlighting that EE and Wuaki.tv are perfect partners.” EE is also planning to expand access to its TV service to its cellular network. That will enable EE TV subs to stream live TV to mobile devices outside the home.
EE TV launched last year as a free add-on for its broadband subscribers. The service is currently limited to streaming inside the home, either to the TV set via a net top or to smartphones and tablets on the home WiFi network.