Internet TV service, YouView backed by UK based broadcasters BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel Five and three communication companies, TalkTalk, BT and Arquiva has gone on trial in 350 homes.
The IPTV platform plans to deliver range of third-party contents including television content, radio content, on-demand services and internet content through a set-top box connected with an internet connection.
As part of the ‘alpha trial’, each of the homes will be given a set top box to avail free online services such as the BBC iPlayer, as well as subscription apps such as Amazon’s Lovefilm.
The content is planned to be availed to the viewers’ living room TVs subscription-free providing viewers a seamless TV experience and greater choice of content.
The project has started in December 2008 as Project Canvas which was later rebranded as YouView in September 2010.
The launch was delayed due to technical problems which was scheduled to beam content to UK homes in 2010.
Following the "alpha" trial success, the set top boxes could be installed in about 2,500 homes for broader testing of the service before the start of the London Olympics.
The set-top boxes will be provided at a cost of £200 while the broadband providers TalkTalk and BT are planning to subsidise the box for their customers.
