As per a decision taken by British regulator Ofcom, YouView (formerly known as Project Canvas) is set to bring video on demand to the UK’s Freeview (free-to-air digital terrestrial television service) and Freesat (free-to-air digital satellite television service) in the first half of next year to households with broadband access.
YouView has seven partners – BBC, BT, ITV, Channel 4, Talk Talk and Channel 5. According to The Guardian, YouView has been the butt of complaints from the likes of Virgin Media and BSkyB that it is an anti-competitive cartel threatening the burgeoning video on demand market.
Ofcom believes that YouView will bring benefits to viewers and consumers. The YouView executive management maintains the launch of the service will stimulate competition in the market and create opportunities for content providers and device manufacturers.
