Millions of households in the UK are facing a common dilemma: the abundance of channels and streaming services makes it challenging to find something to watch. EE, a company owned by BT and known for its broadband, television, and mobile services, has unveiled a new feature to address this issue. The feature, named Smart Search, is a smart enhancement to its TV devices aimed at competing with established services like Freeview and Sky.
Smart Search is designed to understand users’ natural language queries when searching for content to watch. Instead of requiring specific titles, users can search based on mood, themes, plot details, or even memorable quotes. For instance, users can say “Marty McFly,” “Great Scott,” or “sci-fi” to locate the movie “Back to the Future.” The feature aggregates results from live TV, on-demand services, and various streaming apps, presenting them in a single interface.
Users can also make queries like “a funny detective show” or “a film featuring the actor from The Inbetweeners,” and EE TV will promptly provide relevant suggestions. In addition to Smart Search, EE has introduced another tool called Mood Matcher, powered by artificial intelligence. By answering a few questions related to mood, preferred genres, and themes, viewers receive personalized recommendations, making it easier for families to choose a movie for a Saturday night. While similar tools exist with Sky, Freeview lacks comparable features.
Luciano Oliveira, Director of Product, Home & TV at EE, emphasized the simplicity of choosing what to watch with Smart Search and Mood Matcher. EE asserts that it is the first pay-TV service in the UK to offer conversational, AI-driven search capabilities, distinguishing it from competitors like Sky.
According to technology analyst Paolo Pescatore, faster content discovery enhances the overall viewing experience, particularly in a world where audiences are inundated with content choices. Smart Search and Mood Matcher are currently accessible through the EE TV app on compatible televisions, with support for EE TV Pro and EE TV Box Edge devices arriving soon. For more information, visit ee.co.uk/smartsearch.