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EE has pushed out a free update to its set-top boxes that brings YouTube to the big screen. For the first time, EE TV Box Pro and EE TV Box Mini owners will be able to stream from the ever-expanding library of content on YouTube, including music videos, live streams, and original content from creators.
You'll also be able to rent movies and buy TV show episodes from within the YouTube app — potentially opening up lower prices for your favourite video on-demand content. Ad-free viewing via YouTube Premium and YouTube Primetime Channels will also be accessible within the YouTube app, EE has stated.
EE TV Box Pro (pictured) is the flagship new hardware to accompany the all-new service, with space for 600-hours of recorded telly, the ability to record from 4x channels simultaneously, pause and rewind live television, and support for Dolby Atmos and 4K Ultra HD
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For those who don't know, YouTube Primetime Channels work identically to Channels on Prime Video and Apple TV — allowing you to access content from a third-party streaming service without the need to download a new app or set up an entirely new account.
Instead, the payment details saved with YouTube, Amazon, or Apple will be charged for the monthly subscription and you'll access the library of content from within the existing app.
YouTube Primetime Channels arrived in the UK after a successful launch in the United States and Germany. For now, EE TV viewers will be able to subscribe and stream from Lionsgate+, Hayu, History Play, DAZN, and Crime & Investigation Play from within the YouTube app.
YouTube joins the ranks of other popular streamers built into the new EE TV boxes, including Netflix, Prime Video, NOW, and Apple TV+. EE has spoken about its desire to add support for Disney+ soon.
Discussing the launch, Partnerships Director at EE, Alistair Wilson said: "Our new EE TV service offers customers access to the widest choice of the very best TV shows, films and sport available, as we look to provide them with access to the content they love.
"YouTube is the latest partner of ours, and we’re sure that with its the vast library of video and music content now easily accessible via the service, it will prove really popular with customers."
EE TV Box Pro and EE TV Box Mini both launched late last year as part of a dramatic overhaul to the EE TV service, which included a custom-designed remote control for the Apple TV set-top box and a rebrand for all BT TV viewers via an overnight software update.
EE is playing catch-up with many of the more established telly offerings in the UK, like Sky Stream, Sky Glass, Sky Q, Virgin TV 360, Virgin Media Stream, and TalkTalk TV. All of these set-top boxes include a YouTube app, with access to its library of viral videos, original productions, music videos, tutorials, and more.
EE TV Box Pro and EE TV Box Mini offer access to more than 70 Freeview channels, streamers like Netflix and Prime Video, as well as paid-for channels from Sky, Discovery, Eurosport, TNT Sports, and others. It can be bought separately or bundled with a monthly broadband subscription.
With its latest free software update, EE has installed the YouTube app on every EE TV Box Pro and EE TV Box Mini in the UK
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Multi-room viewing comes as standard with all EE TV bundles. That's a clear differentiator between the phone operator's solution and Sky TV, which charges £12 per month for its Whole Home add-on to watch live and on-demand shows in multiple rooms.
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Like Sky Stream and Sky Glass, not to mention Virgin Media's Stream box, EE will let you switch between the bundle of channels available on your box every month. That means you won't be locked into the same subscription for two years. It also means you can unlock Sky Cinema channels during the summer blockbuster season, before switching to Sky Sports when the Premier League restarts.
Speaking about the launch, EE CEO Marc Allera said: "The launch of EE TV is one of the first significant strides we’re taking since launching New EE. The service is built for busy households, and we believe it will elevate the TV experience for consumers across the UK."
Both the EE TV Box Pro and EE TV Box Mini feature a sleek design, developed in collaboration with renowned hardware designer, Tej Chauhan, who has previously created products for Joseph Joseph and Motorola. The shells of both set-top boxes are built from 95% recycled plastic, with box packaging being both recycled and recyclable.
