Deutsche Telekom AG(NYSE: DT - message board) has cut the price of its IPTV package in an effort to boost uptake before the end of the year, and, like other European carriers, is using domestic soccer coverage as one of its main content attractions. (See DT Pushes IPTV, Mobile.)

    DT launched its service about a year ago and has set itself a target of 200,000 customers by the end of this year and 1.5 million by 2010. (See DT Plans M&A, IPTV Push.)

    While it hasn't revealed current IPTV subscriber numbers, it's believed to be in the tens of thousands. That means the incumbent carrier will need to add 100,000-plus new IPTV customers during the next four months to achieve its year end target.

    To do that it has renamed its IPTV packages and begun a new marketing campaign, based around features such as time-shift TV and content such as soccer, and dropped its triple play (voice, broadband, and TV) entry level price by around 25 percent from the previous €81.26 ($110.81). (See DT Adds New Brand Chief.)

    The operator says customers in its broadband upgrade areas can now get an entry level telco TV service, called Entertain Comfort (formerly T-Home Complete Basic), for €59.95 ($81.65). This includes 70 TV channels, access to additional pay-TV channels and on-demand content, high-speed DSL access, and unlimited fixed line voice calls within Germany.

    The Entertain Comfort Plus (formerly T-Home Complete Plus), includes about 30 more TV channels, two soccer games each weekend, a listings magazine, and free access to the carrier's 8,600 public WLAN access points. It costs €74.95 ($102.34).

    As in other European countries, such as U.K. and Italy, live soccer is being used to lure potential subscribers. (See Sky Falls on Virgin's Head and BT Talks Google, IPTV & Collaboration.)