YouView, a new subscription-free internet-connected TV service for the UK, today confirmed that hundreds of organisations involved in content provision have registered their interest in engaging with YouView as the platform develops.
These represent a wide range of free and paid content including, entertainment, mainstream and independent films, music, news, factual, sport, arts and local content.
Following the launch of its industry engagement programme for content providers last year, YouView also announced today the names of the 29 organisations with which it is working closely to shape and test the processes for making content available via the platform.
These organisations were selected following an ‘expressions of interest’ process run last Autumn. They represent a wide range of video and audio on demand content providers, as well as technology and service providers who support end-to-end content delivery.
The content providers working with YouView are Blinkbox, Blinkx, BSkyB, Film4oD, Golant Media Ventures, Guardian News & Media, IndieMoviesOnline, LOVEFiLM, Pushbutton, Radioplayer, Stream UK, STV, Travel Channel, Tvinci, UTV and woomi.
Alcatel-Lucent, Blinkx, Capablue, Deluxe, easeltv, IMD, ioko, Kaltura, Nativ, Ooyala, Red Bee Media, Technicolor, TripleSEE and Twofour form the technology and service providers’ advisory group.
“We’re delighted with the response we’ve had from the creative industries,” said Richard Halton, CEO, YouView. “We want all types of content providers to be able to deliver their content via YouView so viewers get the best possible choice.
“The diversity and expertise of the organisations that are informing our development will ensure that YouView is able to support a potentially unlimited range of content in the future.”
The combination of organisations working with YouView provides a rich mix of industry experience in all aspects of content and service provision. Through YouView’s technical development groups, this industry advisory group is informing processes and guidelines which will be published this year.
All content providers – including those that form its advisory group – will later this year, be invited by YouView to confirm their formal intention to making content available via the platform.
Alistair Brown, Chief Technology and Platforms Officer at STV, said: “We are delighted to be engaging with YouView, alongside leading UK content providers. We are confident that the development of this platform will be a great fit for our ‘STV Anywhere’ strategy, which strives to make STV content available across all platforms, whenever and wherever our audience wants it.”
Simon Calver, CEO, LOVEFiLM, said: “LOVEFiLM is committed to bringing its service to as many customers as possible on the broadest range of platforms, and therefore continues to follow and support YouView’s development with interest.”
James Rowley-Ashwood, Co-Founder and COO, IndieMoviesOnline said: “We see YouView being a key part of our strategy to bringing viewers the widest possible choice of on demand movies through the living room TV. It’s great for IndieMoviesOnline to be part of the group informing the development of YouView, giving us the confidence that the platform will balance the needs of all types of content providers.”
Michael Hill, Managing Director, Radioplayer, said: “Radioplayer and YouView is a perfect match – we’re both working across our respective industries, to help users get more from their media. Radioplayer is proud to be part of YouView’s advisory group, and we look forward to helping users find the whole of UK Radio on their TV, as well as on their computer.”
Bill Scott, COO, easeltv, said: “We believe that YouView has an important role to play in defining the future of television in the UK, so we’re delighted to be involved. The seamless integration of today’s TV experience with on-demand content over broadband is very attractive to our clients. We’re expecting to deliver some really innovative televisual experiences as a result and look forward to a long and productive relationship with YouView.”
Bill Patrizio, CEO, Red Bee Media, said: “We are excited to be engaging with YouView in the development of its ground breaking internet-connected TV service for UK homes, which will transform the way we all watch TV. Red Bee Media offers a complete range of services that any content owner needs to make their content available via YouView. With our expertise in supporting many of the UK’s major on-demand content providers, Red Bee Media is strategically placed to be a valuable advisor in the delivery of the biggest step change in the TV business for a generation.”
For more information on the YouView industry advisory group please go to: www.youview.com/engage