Millions of households in the UK are facing a common dilemma: the abundance of TV channels and streaming services can make finding something to watch a time-consuming task. EE, a company owned by BT and known for its mobile network, is aiming to address this issue by introducing a new feature to its TV devices that competes with services like Freeview and Sky.
The innovative feature, named Smart Search, is designed to understand natural language queries for content. Users no longer need to know specific titles; instead, they can search based on moods, themes, plot details, or even memorable quotes. For instance, mentioning “Marty McFly,” “Great Scott,” or “sci-fi” would help locate the movie Back to the Future. EE TV consolidates results from live TV, on-demand services, and various streaming apps into one convenient interface.
Users can also make requests like “a funny detective show” or “a film featuring the actor from The Inbetweeners,” and EE TV will promptly provide relevant viewing options.
In addition to Smart Search, EE is rolling out another enhancement called Mood Matcher. This AI-powered tool assists viewers in refining their choices by inquiring about their mood, preferred genres, and themes. Subsequently, customers receive personalized recommendations, making it ideal for families who struggle to pick a Saturday night movie. Although Sky offers similar tools, Freeview lacks comparable features.
Luciano Oliveira, the Director of Product, Home & TV at EE, highlighted that selecting what to watch should not be a daunting task. He mentioned that Smart Search and Mood Matcher simplify the process by allowing users to describe their preferences and answer a few questions, leaving the rest to EE TV.
While Sky also offers voice search features, EE claims to be the first pay-TV service in the UK to introduce conversational, AI-driven search functionality.
Paolo Pescatore, a technology analyst, emphasized that faster content discovery enhances the viewing experience, particularly in a landscape where audiences are inundated with content choices.
Smart Search and Mood Matcher are currently accessible through the EE TV app on compatible televisions, with forthcoming support for EE TV Pro and EE TV Box Edge devices. Further information can be found at ee.co.uk/smartsearch.
