Millions of UK households struggle to navigate the vast array of TV channels and on-demand content. EE, now part of BT, addresses this challenge with a new Smart Search feature on its EE TV platform, positioning it as a strong competitor to Freeview and Sky.
Smart Search Revolutionizes Content Discovery
Smart Search simplifies finding shows and movies by interpreting natural descriptions based on mood, theme, plot details, or even memorable quotes. It aggregates results from live TV, on-demand libraries, and integrated streaming apps, displaying options in one convenient interface.
Users can now search phrases like “a funny detective show” or “a film starring the actor from The Inbetweeners,” with relevant content appearing instantly on screen.
Mood Matcher Delivers Personalized Recommendations
Complementing Smart Search, the AI-driven Mood Matcher feature prompts users with quick questions about their current mood, preferred genres, and themes. It then generates tailored suggestions for shows and films, ideal for resolving family debates over evening entertainment.
While Sky offers a comparable search tool, Freeview lacks this capability.
Expert Insights on the Updates
“Choosing what to watch shouldn’t be hard, but for millions of households, it genuinely is,” stated Luciano Oliveira, Director of Product, Home & TV at EE. “We’ve all lost half an hour to scrolling, or given up and rewatched something familiar just to end the debate. Smart Search and Mood Matcher are our answer: describe what you’re in the mood for, answer a few quick questions, and EE TV does the rest. Welcome to spending less time deciding, and more time relaxing and enjoying the TV you love.”
Paolo Pescatore, Technology, Media and Telecoms Analyst at PP Foresight, added, “The quicker viewers can discover the right show, the better the experience feels. In a market where audiences are spoilt for choice, making discovery faster and easier is becoming just as important as the content itself. In a world of endless choice, fast discovery is the real killer feature.”
Both features are available immediately through the EE TV app on compatible devices, with rollout planned for EE TV Pro and EE TV Box Edge users soon. Visit ee.co.uk/smartsearch for details.
