It's a common problem faced by millions of homes across the UK. How do you quickly find something to watch amongst the endless channels and content that are now available? EE reckons it has the answer thanks to an update that rivals platforms such as Freeview and Sky. The provider, which is now part of BT, is launching a new Smart Search on its EE TV platform. As the name suggests, this should make it easier to find things to watch.

EE says its Smart Search will transform how people find content by understanding how viewers naturally think about what they want to watch.

So, instead of needing to know the exact title of a show or film, customers can simply describe what they're looking for by mood, theme, plot element or even a favourite one-liner. Smart Search then pulls together results from across live TV, on-demand libraries and streaming apps on EE TV, presenting everything in one place so customers can spend less time searching and more time watching.

For example, it's now possible to say things like, "a funny detective show" or "a film with the actor from The Inbetweeners" and that content will be displayed on the screen.

EE also says it's launching another update called Mood Matcher. This AI-powered feature takes some of the pain out of choosing what to watch. Customers can answer a few quick questions about their mood, genres and themes, and Mood Matcher will instantly serve up a personalised selection of shows and films.

That could be especially handy for families spending ages debating what Saturday night movie to watch. Sky already offers a similar search feature, but it's not something you'll find on Freeview.

"Choosing what to watch shouldn't be hard, but for millions of households, it genuinely is," said Luciano Oliveira, Director of Product, Home & TV, 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 to that: 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".

And Paolo Pescatore, Technology, Media and Telecoms Analyst, 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."

Smart Search and Mood Matcher are available now via the EE TV app on compatible TV devices, with plans to extend availability to EE TV Pro and EE TV Box Edge customers at a later date. For more information you can head to ee.co.uk/smartsearch