davieG Posted 4 July 2012 Posted 4 July 2012 BBC YouView - an internet TV service that combines the UK's Freeview channels with on-demand content - has been formally launched. Users will have access to programmes broadcast over the previous week from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel Five, as well as the ability to pause and rewind live TV. The project had originally been scheduled to begin in 2010. Some analysts have said the delay might have harmed its prospects. Lord Sugar, the project's non-executive chairman, showed off a set-top box made by Humax which will allow users to access the service. He said it would cost £299, but added that he would not be surprised if that fell to £99 in a couple of years. It will be made available in two ways: From retailers with no further subscription payments necessary. They will begin stocking set-top boxes later this month. From internet service providers (ISP) as part of one of their broadband packages. BT and TalkTalk - who are among the service's backers - said they would shortly unveil packages which would include additional content. Sky has said it would add its Now TV product offering access to movies, sport and entertainment at a later date. STV, Scotland's ITV franchise, also plans to offer on-demand content soon. Opportunities YouView was first announced in 2008 when it was called Project Canvas. Some industry watchers have said that the subsequent launch of smart TVs with similar features may weigh on demand. However, Ian Watt from Enders Analysis added that it should still help the ISPs involved, giving them another tool to discourage customers switching to rival's all-in-one packages. "I'd say it's better late than never," he told the BBC. "For players in the telecoms space such as BT this move represents an attempt to level the playing field with Sky and Virgin Media. "They can piggyback the success of Freeview and offer lower cost entry points into the pay-TV market, providing an opportunity to attract more subscribers than they had been able to do with products such as BT Vision." BT recently agreed to pay £738m for 114 Premier League football across three seasons from 2013. Analysts have suggested the firm needs to treble its number of TV subscribers if it is to break even.
Trav Le Bleu Posted 4 July 2012 Posted 4 July 2012 Some industry watchers have said that the subsequent launch of smart TVs with similar features may weigh on demand. That is the most telling line. Nobody is going to pay £299 for something that already exists or which can do very similar stuff, for a lot less. Can someone tell me how Lord Sugar got rich?
Guest Posted 4 July 2012 Posted 4 July 2012 That is the most telling line. Nobody is going to pay £299 for something that already exists or which can do very similar stuff, for a lot less. Can someone tell me how Lord Sugar got rich? Ripped people off in the 80's?
Rincewind Posted 4 July 2012 Posted 4 July 2012 I was told by the woman who discussed my plan that they did not do TV yet but were plannig to. So it may have been this. I am going on to Talk Talk broadband and telephone maybe they'll be a special deal for the first subscribers. I'm not bothered about all the extra Sky channels etc.
Daggers Posted 4 July 2012 Posted 4 July 2012 Can someone tell me how Lord Sugar got rich? He happened to own property on land which suddenly became very valuable. The notion that he is a leading businessman is absolute shit - as this pile of wank amply demonstrates.
MooseBreath Posted 4 July 2012 Posted 4 July 2012 I didn't even think a tv needed to be particularly smart to hook up your PC/laptop to it and play iplayer/4od. Seems like a total non-feature. The only thing you get is the ability to pause and rewind, which I'd personally perhaps pay a fiver for if I was feeling flush, but £299?? Must be some kind of sick joke. I would be surprised if as many as two sensible people bought one of those at that price. And "youview"? DIdn't know it was 2006 you bunch of *****.
wurmer Posted 4 July 2012 Posted 4 July 2012 3 years too late.... Sugar got lucky in the 80's with crappy hifi and nasty PC's - not a jot since....... He's not the tech-seer that he thinks he is.
Big Dave Posted 4 July 2012 Posted 4 July 2012 That is the most telling line. Nobody is going to pay £299 for something that already exists or which can do very similar stuff, for a lot less. Can someone tell me how Lord Sugar got rich? Amstrad make the Sky and Sky+ boxes. They also make loads of satellite decoder boxes for the European market. They have made a good majority of satellite boxes over the past 20 years.
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