Analyst Talks To...Marc Watson

Marc Watson is chief executive of TV and online services at BT

Hello Marc. So could you describe your role?

Yes, I run BT's entertainment business and also what we do online.

Are you happy with the status quo at BT Vision?

The short answer is no. I think we've made good progress over the last two years having launched the service into a very competitive market. But we need to keep improving the product and we need to acquire more customers. Achieving this will require putting entertainment right at the heart of what BT does – corporately, operationally and at the centre of the products we offer.

Is there a conflict between the existing BT brand and BT as an entertainment company?

I don't think the general public automatically associates BT and entertainment just yet. This is something we absolutely have to change. And we can do it providing we give our customers the product they want and we market it in the right way. The challenge is to get people talking about BT Vision and evangelising it.

What are your plans regarding content development – especially premier league football?

Well, the only premiership football we don't offer at present is Sky's live matches. But we are determined to make Sky Sports available to our customers as soon as we are able to. We also plan to continue investing in our content and our dedicated team is working very actively behind the scenes. I do think we have a great deal of compelling stuff already – and our pricing is the most competitive in the market.

Are you hopeful that Ofcom's Pay TV review will have a satisfactory outcome for BT?

I'm very optimistic that we will get an outcome that allows us to retail Sky Sports. Obviously the conditions will be very important though. Ofcom, which is in the process of consulting on this detail right now, has to get the conditions of supply right - including the price - if it is going to get the right kind of balanced regulatory framework that the marketplace needs.

What's the latest news on Project Canvas?

It's actually progressing pretty well with lots and lots of companies expressing great enthusiasm. The BBC Trust is in the middle of a detailed consultation and will make a decision at the end of the year. We are optimistic that it will be a positive decision. We are looking towards the launch some time at the back-end of next Summer.

Marc, how will you know if and when you've succeeded in your role?

That will be when we've built a big, profitable and successful entertainment business that's at the heart of what BT does.