Following news of delays to the YouView project which will bring the Internet and catch-up TV on to the television, YouView have announced that the service is now planned for a full consumer launch in early 2012. A trial will begin at the end of those year before the full-service goes live. The technical specification for launch products will be published shortly which will enable industry to start development on YouView hardware.
"Our focus has always been to deliver a product to consumers that is right, but not rushed. Creating a truly open TV platform that will bring consumers increased choice has required significant technological innovation. Our timings for the launch reflect the scale and complexity of this project."
Richard Halton, (CEO) YouView
YouView is the product that has been piqued to marry the Internet with the TV in the UK as it incorporates all the catch-up TV platforms of the UK terrestrial channels such as 4oD, BBC iPlayer and ITV Player. Delays to the launch may have harmed potential take up as competitors are starting to take hold of the market with TV manufacturers bundling 'connected TV' services within their new models, allowing people to get online directly on their TV's. With many large backers though, and TalkTalk counting on YouView to allow them to provide quad-play services, YouView is unlikely to be a forgotten name in a year or two.
They will have missed the boat by then, the last place to change to digital will be London and around that area, by the time You View comes out, that will be the only place to change over.