Richard Halton announced as Chief Executive Officer
YouView is today revealed as the brand that will bring a new free-to-air internet-connected TV service to UK homes next year.
The seven partners behind Project Canvas have today announced the
formation of YouView TV Ltd as well as the appointment of its new CEO,
Richard Halton.[1]
From next year viewers will have the choice of a subscription-free
YouView set top box that will combine their favourite digital TV
channels with the last seven days? catch up TV, as well as bringing a
full range of on-demand services and interactive extras straight to the
living room.
Halton takes responsibility for the new company with immediate
effect, working alongside Kip Meek, who was appointed Chairman in
August.[2]
?YouView is a brilliant new subscription-free TV service which
combines the best TV with on demand services and internet content. I am
delighted to be leading the team who will make it a reality and think it
will change the way we watch TV forever,? said Halton.
?We are creating an exciting consumer brand which will stand for a
better TV experience for UK homes. Connected TV creates all kinds of
creative possibilities, for existing networks as well as local services
and new developers of interactive applications. It all adds up to great
news for TV audiences. I look forward to working closely with the
creative and developer communities to open up exciting possibilities for
viewers to discover and enjoy content in new ways.?
Kip Meek, said: ?YouView is key to ensuring that everyone in the UK
benefits from next-generation TV and the UK has a competitive market.
Viewers will get more choice whilst broadcasters and content providers
both national and local will get a fantastic new means of finding
audiences.?
YouView, which expects to launch in the first half of next year, will
introduce a programme guide that goes backwards as well as forwards.
This will enable people to easily see what?s on now alongside everything
they?ve missed in the last 7 days, including programmes from
broadcasters like the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and five, which already have
an on demand offering.
Set top boxes will include a Personal Video recorder so viewers can
pause live TV or record an entire series at the touch of a button.
Viewers will also be able to simply search for the kind of programmes
they like by genre, interest or locality, including films, sports and
new content from the internet. Plans to offer an applications store will
also give viewers new types of services and levels of interactivity
with their favourite programmes.
YouView set top boxes will be available for a one-off fee, with no
contract. They may be offered at special rates as part of new or
improved broadband packages. To get the full range of on-demand and
interactive services, viewers will need a broadband connection from
their chosen internet service provider.
[Notes]
[1] Youview is a joint venture between the BBC, ITV, BT, Channel 4,
TalkTalk, Arqiva and Five and is incorporated as Youview TV Limited. For
further information please go to www.youview.com
[2] Richard Halton has led the development of Project Canvas from the
start, achieving widespread industry support from device manufacturers
to content producers for the proposals.
Previously Halton led the BBC?s Corporate Strategy team responsible
for emerging platform and commercial strategy and has been instrumental
in developing the BBC?s editorial, technology and business strategy over
the last ten years. He led the BBC?s ?Creative Future? strategy for the
Director General in 2005 and prior to that was Controller TV Strategy,
responsible for the development of the BBC?s suite of digital TV
services. He is also a former board member of Freeview.
Read more