YouView
YouView is a hybrid television platform in the United Kingdom developed by YouView TV Ltd, a partnership of four broadcasters, the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5; and three telecommunications operators, Arqiva, BT Group and TalkTalk Group.
Formerly
Canvas Pro Tem Limited (July–September 2010)[1]
Project Canvas
16 September 2010 in London, England, UK
London, England, UK
Simon Duffy, Chairman
- Television software
- Set-top boxes
Overview[edit]
YouView provides access to free-to-air digital terrestrial television (DTT) channels from Freeview using an aerial connection, and to TV on demand ("catch-up TV") services using a broadband internet connection. YouView PVR set-top boxes are sold at retail, or built into certain Sony Bravia TV sets, and the service has no contract or subscription. BT and TalkTalk both use YouView software for their subscription services BT TV, Plusnet's 'YouView TV from Plusnet', and TalkTalk TV, and provide their own additional offerings to their subscribers through their own branded YouView set-top boxes.
The platform was formed from an ambitious project between the UK's four terrestrial broadcasters that started in 2008, originally titled Project Canvas.[2] The project went through difficulties due to regulatory approvals and fears of it being anti-competitive. After a long delay it finally launched on 4 July 2012.[3]
Features[edit]
The original purpose of YouView was to combine web streamed television and traditional television together in one box. The service was initially marketed as those who did not have an existing subscription to Sky, Virgin or BT TV. One of YouView's features is the electronic programming guide (EPG) that can scroll backwards up to 7 days and that integrates directly with the respective channel's catch-up service.[12]
Freeview has since launched a similar, competing platform called Freeview Play.[13]
On 14 April 2011, YouView published its final core technical specification.[14] The minimum specifications for a YouView-enabled digital terrestrial television (DTT) high-definition (HD) digital video recorder (DVR or PVR) product require:[15]
Analogue HD outputs are forbidden as part of the rights management strategy.
The specifications will evolve over time to reflect different devices, including non-PVR and Freesat variants.
Set-top boxes available for the YouView service:
Note 1: each YouView box comes in a variety of hard disk storage sizes, and is often designated by ModelNo/StorageSize – e.g. DTR-T1000/500GB
Note 2: The only box that supports Wi-Fi is the Sagemcom RTIW387, all others must connect directly to the router or through power-line adapters.[26]
Note 3: YouView+ has become the designated way to show the set-top box records TV programmes.
This is because of services offered by TalkTalk TV.[27]