More than a thousand customers have spent the last few months testing it, and today UPC will officially launch its next-generation Horizon TV service.

The service, which will be unveiled by UPC Ireland’s new chief executive Magnus Ternsjö, is already available in the Netherlands and Switzerland, and is marketed by the company with the tagline “Endless TV from UPC”.

Its main advantage is that it allows viewers to synchronise their television sets with iPads and iPhones, meaning television content can be accessed on Apple tablets and smartphones, while content stored on those devices such as family photographs and videos can be viewed on the television screen.

Customers will also benefit from a personalised television show recommendation service, based on the viewing habits of the user.

More good news
The service should spell more good news for UPC which earlier this month toasted a record number of subscriptions to its TV, broadband and telephone services. In the second quarter of 2013, UPC added 9,000 subscriptions for its fibre powered broadband, TV and phone services across its home and business divisions.

Compared to the same quarter a year ago total subscriptions increased by 8 per cent or 76,400 to a record level of 1,021,600.

The roll-out of the service to the wider public comes as UPC continues to face a battle to lure television customers away from Sky.

UPC said it had 335,500 digital TV subscribers at the end of June, which is 2,900 fewer than it had at the end of March.