YouView, a Project Canvas venture, is planning to launch a new set-top box, which will allow you to access IPTV, right from the
comfort of your couch. YouView has some solid backing with names such BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5 and ITV collaborating with Project Canvas. TalkTalk, BT and Arqiva are also said to be in the loop. The service is an upgraded version of Project Canvas' earlier offering FreeView. The new service marries a digital video recorder with a subscription-free broadcast TV, throws in a wide gamut of On-demand content and completes it with a number of "Apps".
Initially, YouView is planning to target the market of 7 million people who are already using FreeView along with a broadband connection. Freeview is planning to source its content from various sources ranging from indie sources to internet phenomenon such as YouTube and Lovefilm. Navigation will be done through remote control, which I believe, will enhance the overall TV feel, which just is not possible with a key board and mouse. Since Apple and Google are already in the online TV arena, things are only bound to get more interesting with the entry of YouView. However, now even the manufacturers such as Samsung and Sony are directly embedding digital content in their devices. Sony has already said that its new Bravia sets will have in-built BBC iPlayer.
YouView set-top boxes are expected to hit markets in the first half of 2011.
Source: SlashGear
One thought on “YouView to Bring IPTV to British Screens”
This kind of device looks like the future of free TV. A lot of the features will and are already being built into newer TVs. It should good way to add viewing content without an expencive upgrade or a 3 View Box? I am sure that Pay Per View will play a high profile part in this products marketing. However the more compitition in this market can only be getter for the customer.