YouView brings Internet TV to UK's Freeview

[garyopa]

YouView launched two years behind schedule...



The YouView Internet TV service launches in the UK. Combines the UK's Freeview channels with on-demand content.

YouView, a free television service which combines digital channels with on-demand programming, have launched in the UK this Wednesday.

Well, the project had originally been scheduled to begin in 2010. That's why some analysts predicted that the delay might have harmed its prospects.

But the service, backed by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, Arqiva, BT and TalkTalk, is entering a crowded market and its initial offer of catch-up services like iPlayer and digital channels available on the rival Freeview service may not make an impact, analysts say.

Lord Sugar, the businessman and TV personality bought in as YouView chairman last year to bring leadership to the floundering project, said it was aimed at the 13-15 million British households without a pay-TV deal.

"The Freeview audience don't want to be tied to a contract, they only need this box," he said.

"The audience to me is Mrs Smith on the 17th floor of a tower block in Newham."

YouView will have just one model of set-top box on sale (made by Humax) by the end of July, and it will cost cost £299, but Sugar added that he would not be surprised if that fell to £99 in a couple of years.

It's available in two ways:

- From retailers with no further subscription payments necessary. They will begin stocking set-top boxes later this month.

- From internet service providers (ISP) as part of one of their broadband packages. BT and TalkTalk - who are among the service's backers - said they would shortly unveil packages which would include additional content.

Seems that Sky will add its "Now TV" product offering access to movies, sport and entertainment at a later date. Also, STV -Scotland's ITV franchise- plans to offer on-demand content soon.

Go to the official YouView website for more info!

NEWS SOURCE #1: Technology #18699924 (via) BBC News
NEWS SOURCE #2: YouView (via) Official Site

Our thanks to 'Gauss' for this news item!

[billysastard]

this seems pretty cool, a tv set top box that does what people expect a set top box to do without having to pay an xbl subscription fee.