Entertainment from the internet, free-to-air TV, movies and sport will be available on the biggest screen in consumers’ homes when Australia’s largest ISP and online content provider launches an IPTV service later this month.

The Telstra T-Box brings HD free-to-air TV, BigPond TV and YouTube videos to one set top box and one remote. BigPond TV includes seven sports, news and music channels plus a library of on-demand videos. BigPond content is unmetered and exclusive for BigPond customers with no monthly subscription fees on top of their regular internet connection.

Telstra Chief Executive Officer David Thodey said television was fast becoming the gateway to entertainment from the internet, with enhanced live TV services and internet video coming direct into the lounge rooms of Australian homes.

“Internet connectivity is the biggest thing on TV since the launch of cable television, opening the door to boundless options for on-demand entertainment and Telstra’s new T-Box is the best way to access it all,” Mr Thodey said.

“Our line-up of downloadable BigPond Movies has been expanded for the T-Box launch, with more than 1300 titles from Hollywood’s biggest studios and great independents with regular new releases, as well as a growing range of TV series.

“BigPond TV’s content on the T-Box also brings a host of channels for no extra cost, including 24/7 news, dedicated and exclusive AFL, NRL,V8 Supercars channels, plus a 24/7 BigPond Sports News channel, live horse racing from Sydney and Melbourne and a music channel called BPM.

“YouTube fans can also sit back and enjoy the latest videos in the comfort of their lounge room via the T-Box,” he said.

Mr Thodey said customer trials of the T-Box identified the most popular features as downloading BigPond Movies and pausing and rewinding free-to-air TV.

“T-Box also enhances free-to-air TV by working as a personal video recorder, meaning customers can record, pause and rewind live TV or watch one channel while recording another. It has 320GB of storage and an easy-to-read seven day TV guide, making recording and viewing programs simple,” he said.

“Customers now have multiple devices connecting to the internet in their home, each delivering different experiences with the T-Box bringing broadband out of the study into the lounge room.

“T-Box makes a trip to the video store a thing of the past; customers with a high speed BigPond broadband service can rent and start watching a movie in full digital quality in minutes.

“T-Box is the latest innovation from Telstra, and together with the T-Hub home phone launched earlier this year, it represents a step towards the digital home that will make consumers’ lives simpler,” he said.

T-Box, with full personal video recorder functionality, twin HD tuners and 320GB of hard drive storage, will be competitively priced at $299 outright, or eligible customers can add it to one of Telstra’s bundles and pay it off in installments over 24 months. BigPond movies will start at $3.99 per movie.

The T-Box provides HDMI, composite and component video connections to the TV and requires a high speed BigPond Broadband connection such as BigPond Cable Elite or BigPond ADSL 2+ Elite, connected via ethernet or WiFi. Additionally, the T-Box will enable analog televisions to receive digital broadcasts, ideal for customers who don’t want to upgrade their current TV to a digital set.

T-Box also supports connection to home theatre systems with digital audio and standard audio connections. It will receive remote software updates which automatically download and install, so your T-Box is always up to date.

T-Box can be purchased from selected Telstra Stores later this month.