Tesco has revealed it is pulling the plug on its free online video streaming service, Clubcard TV, as it hails the launch of the personalisation-packed “bigger, faster” Hudl2 tablet.
Clubcard TV was launched just 18 months ago to Tesco’s 16 million loyalty scheme members, with the welcome email stating: “This is just the start for Clubcard TV. We’ll be regularly updating the movies and TV shows that we bring you, as well as introducing new features and ways to watch.”
However, citing a lack of viewers, the supermarket says it is ditching the service to focus on Blinkbox TV – which is itself thought to be under threat of sell-off.
“We’ve learnt a lot since launching Clubcard TV in March 2013 and whilst many enjoyed our free service, we weren’t getting the level of repeat usage we had hoped for,” the company said on its support site. The service will close on October 28.
Meanwhile, Tesco claims the new all-singing, all-dancing Hudl2 has been built with personalisation in mind, offering customers easier access to Tesco services, such as banking, shopping and its loyalty scheme.
For example, the device will offer information such as how many Clubcard points customers have, when their next Tesco online order is being delivered and how far through reading an e-book they are.
Michael Comish, group digital officer at Tesco, said: “We know customers want easy, accessible technology that the whole family can use whether working, shopping, gaming, learning or just taking some time out. Cutting-edge technology doesn’t have to come with a big price tag.
“Hudl2 may be affordable, but we’ve cut no corners when it comes to performance – this is our best tablet offering yet.”
The original Hudl sold over 750,000 units; Tesco will be hoping Hudl 2, priced at £129, will at least match that figure.
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