Welcome to Internet TV Box - Your Online Guide to YouView and YouView Boxes

For a while now, Project Canvas has been the most talked about topic and now it has a name - YouView.

A YouView box simply connects to the internet to replace your normal Freeview or Freeview HD boxes. The YouView Box is said to be as big as when Freeview was first launched and is set to take the TV world by storm. The YouView box is co-owned by a handful of massively influential companies including TalkTalk, BT, Arqiva and TV giants ITV, Channel 4 and most importantly the BBC - All of who will be having a significant input into the development and launch of the new receiver.

New Service to Launch in May 2012.

Finally You View might be about to launch in the UK. Following the delays in 2011 we've been waiting months to hear about the new proposed launch date. In May 2012 we will hopefully be able to use the new YouView catch-up internet TV service. Officials, including top TV execs have given word that the launch of the revolutionary Freeview-based on-demand tv service system will arrive in May.

This information has come directly from speakers at the Digital Television Group conference. At this event several high power attendees appeared to have insider knowledge about the due date of the YouView service.

In summary the idea is to group together all the current catch up / on-demand TV service offerings and make then free to access via a £200 set top box with no subscription charge.

That's the proposal wrapped up in a sentence anyway. This was a completely new idea back in 2010 whent he idea was first developed by the leading TV broadcasters. We do know that YouView's been running a series of tests amd trials already in 2012 so hopefully the live date of May will happen.

See What YouView is all about

The company have recently released their first promotional video. Its not known if this advert / promo clip will feature on TV but looks like some effort has gone into selling the concept before the product launch in May.

YouView will change the way you watch TV Forever

Previously known as 'Project Canvas', this project is the brilliant new subscription free set-top box and service. A simple set top Box will give viewers access to more TV programmes than ever before and help them relax and enjoy every moment in front of the TV.

• Simple TV - The all in one box

YouView brings together all the best bits of TV and Set-Top Box technology from the last decade to create the untimate viewing experience. A YouView Box brings together everything you could ever SEt Top Box and TV want from both your TV and in internet in one simple-to-use box. You View will be a one-stop-shop for catch-up TV, Freeview and Freeview HD, High Definition as well as acting as a PVR (personal video recorder) which enabled viewers to record, pause and rewind live TV programmes.

• Catch Up TV - Why Not Watch Yesterdays TV Today

In addition it offers viewers the ability not only to watch programmes that are currently showing now and later but a box will allow viewers to view a TV guide which goes back in time by 1 week (7 days). As a viewer it will mean that you can catch up and watch last nights shows, or even last weeks episode instantly through a 100% Free service. This type of historic TV guide has never been seen before and will bring a new dimension to your TV.

• Free TV - YouView is a subscription free service with NO monthly costs

Apart from the cost of buying the YouView Box, there is NO cost associated with the You View service. As with Freeview you do not have any monthly contract or top-up service. Once you've bought your box which will retail at around £200, you simply connect it to your Cheap LCD TV and plug in your broadband cable and your box is good to go - All for a very affordable price. For those who need more programmes there will be a massive choice of premium services which you can pay for - this will include the latest films, big sporting events and certain US drama series.

Launch is officially delayed

In an official statement is has been revealed that YouView TV will not be launched until 2012. Whilst this is sad news it is excellent for many other manufacturers who are offering great Satellite TV Deals. It is estimated that the YouView delay will give companies like Freeview, Sky and Virgin an estimated 100,000 customers in 2011.

• Not just Tv - It goes way beyond.

Following the trend set by Apple with the iPod and iPad, You View is being setup with developers in mind. The YouView system will allow people to develop apps for the TV. This will bring additional functionality to every box. As new content providers are setup and new channels launch, these programmes can be easily added to the programme guide lifting the limitations of what your Television can become.

What is a YouView Box?

YouView is the next generation of Freeview Boxes, they are backed by the BBC and offer a TV guide of the Past, Present and Future. Unlike Freeview Boxes, a YouView Box offers the view a TV guide that goes seven days back in time. They will connect into your normal broadband line and display on all modern TV's. This will give the viewer much more choice and flexibility in terms of programmes they can watch.

You View Box Release Date

We expect the You View box will be released before summer 2011 but there is no official announcement on the release data. You can be sure that YouView-Box.com will be the first to let you know as soon as it is known.

About YouView

This latest YouView set top box, will look to build upon the success that Freeview have had with their free to air digital TV service. The You View Boxes will offer a subscription-free television service and similarly to Google-TV, it will offer extra choices of programmes with the ability to stream directly off the internet.

This will allow viewer to not only watch programmes that are currently broadcasting but it will also allow them to watch anything they may have missed from the previous 7 days of TV.

The recently appointed chief executive of the company, Richard Halton said in a statement:

'We think you view will change the way people watch TV forever... I think this [the new TV service and Boxes] will mean that free platforms, which have always had less content than the paid for services, will now offer an explosion of choice... it will keep Freeview, which has risked being left behind, up to date.'

Mr Halton also commented that as the CEO, he would be overseeing the release of the set-top box technical specification and standards release early next year.

In order for the digital Set Top Boxes to fully work, viewers will be required to have need access to both a broadband connection as well as a digital TV signal.

Read more About YouView in much more details and find out about when the first box wil be available.

How Will The set top box be Setup

Setting up and connecting the box will be simple. You will simply plug in your broadband cable into the YouView Box, Connect the digital TV Aerial and then plug the box into your TV. The setup will look something like this:

Box Setup

YouView Box FAQs

Q1. Please Explain What YouView is and What is a YouView Box?

This is the new way to receive and watch TV Programmes. The simple plug and play box will effectively replace your old Freeview / Freeview HD box. It will be just as simple to setup and use as Freeview and it will also bring you all the UK's leading internet based catch up TV services like the iPlayer and 4OD.

A you view box will be a one-stop-shop for all your programme viewing needs. As well as getting all the regular digital TV channels that you know and love, you will also be able to watch the following catch up TV services directly through your TV, with no need to go near a computer or laptop:

• BBC iPlayer
• ITV Player
• 4oD
• Demand Five
• SeeSaw
• YouTube
• Plus any more that come along.

You will be able to access all these at the touch of a button through one small and compact set top box.

This will be the first time viewers will ever have been able to look at a TV guide that not only goes forward but also backwards. This will give viewers more flexibility about when they watch their favourite TV shows and programmes. It will allow you to plan ahead better and catch up on any TV programmes that you happen to miss.. brilliant!

We already know that Hign Definition is the future so you can rest in peace knowing that every you view product will 100% support HD as well as offering a wide selection of Paid For TV channels and additional internet services, some of which will be exclusive to YouView Boxes. Similar to Freeview HD Recorders, every YouView box will have an integrated memory so you will be abel to pause, rewind and record live television at any point.

In a nut shell, you will get all the functionality offered by Freeview HD, the latest 21st Century technology and all the TV you will ever want without having to battle with complicated technology / electrical setups or any kind of paid for TV subscription service (such as Virgin or Sky). If you have more questions please check out our complete YouView Box FAQ section.

UK First To Launch Internet TV and 7 Day Historic Programme Guide

The UK television broadcasting companies - The BBC, ITV, BT, Channel 4, talk talk, Arqiva and Five have are proceeding with the Youview venture. From mid 2011 the companys plan to sell YouView set-top boxes that will enable both digital TV programs and access to on-demand services and Internet bases content.

In recent news - This could be the electronic program guide of YouView.

We know that these boxes will be sold without a contract, ISPs may also offer the boxes for free with their internet contracts. With the set-top boxes will then not only the program of the public broadcaster BBC but also the six cooperating private channels are received. Boxes are much more advanced than normal digital boxes, the YouView digital TV guide includes shows and movies of the last seven days on request and can again look at the upcoming TV Guiide as well. Furthermore, thanks to an integrated recorder it will be possible to pause TV programs or record interesting programs with just one click.

YouView Complaints

There has been a lot of hype in the news recently about complaints about YouView from pretty much all of the major paid for TV competitors who are running scared of the new YouView TV service. The likes of BskyB, Virgin and Sky all asked Ofcom to investigate. The appeal to Ofcom has since been rejected. YouView will be coming to a TV near you soon.

Pre-Order YouView Set Top Box

A question that we keep being asked is 'Can I Pre-Order a YouView Box?' At the moment it is not possible to pre-orer your Youview set top box. We expect major online retailers such as Argos and Amazon to be taking pre-order for the new boxes at the start of 2011. As soon as the first YouView Box is available to pre-order we will add a news update with a link to the pre-order website to our site.

Your Comments on the Service:

By Gill in Manchester:

The new YouView service has been described to be as a new internet connected television service that will offer a free, no subscription TV service via a set-top box.

I guess that a YouView box is really setup to compete with the premium 'paid for' TV services such as Virgin Media and Sky TV. Both Virgin and Sky will be seen as rival companies which may be hurt by the new compoetition. I expect that the new YouView TV service will make Tv a more interactive and richer viewing experience.

The YouView service will only be available once you have purchased the new set-top receiver. These boxes will give viewers access to the existing Freeview and Freeview HD channels as well as the ability to eventually browse content related websites via your TV set. This includes access to all the main catch up services provided by the BBC, ITV, Ch4 and Five.

YouView and The BBC

So how will the BBC revolutionize television with Youview?

Together with various British private broadcasters, the BBC wants YouView to establish a new standard for Internet television. The first YouView Box and the YouView platform will launch and bring the UK its first Internet television service in the first half of 2011.

YouView will to bring a digital set-top box on the market that is sold without subscription or contract. In addition to Internet service providers the boxes where appropriate, offer subsidised with Internet access. Spectators can also receive digital television broadcasts and retrieve the same time from the Internet.

The YouView Box will also be a Set Top Recorder - PVR

Youview will include an electronic program guide that shows what has already been run and what will be running soon. This will be the case for all channels including all the BBC channels - BBC1, BBC2, BBC3, BB4, BBC News etc. The program of the last seven days will always be available on demand.

The set-top boxes will be also used as a digital video recorder, allowing viewers to pause live programs or record complete series with a key press. Also, an Application Store is scheduled to be released on the new services. Read more about how the BBC and YouView partnership.

News // YouView Box Will Not Have Web Browser

Although the specific details about the soon to be released YouView box have not been officially released, in a recent announcement some brief infomration about the functionality were released. It has been confirmed by the 'project canvas' team that the box will NOT have a web browser built in by default. This is not to say that there will never be one, simply that, and we quote 'if, in time, the British public decides that's what it wants, we will be able to do it. But, for now, we've essentially built a TV experience.'.

This is interesting as having a device that connects to the internet it would be relatively simple to create a web browser. Given that developers are able to create 'Apps' for the box, this could be a interesting opportunity for a web app.

News // Ofcom Approves of YouView

Ofcom Approves of YouView The UK's Office of Communications regulator (Ofcom) has officially dismissed a request to investigate the new BBC backed YouView and the proposed YouView Box developments under the Competition Act.

YouView which was formerly known as Project Canvas, has been setup to give the UK public acdcess to the next generation of TV set-top boxes - Known Collectively as YouView Boxes. The YouView Box is expected to bundle free to air TV content with digital set top box, similar to the TiVo box. The first YouView gear is believed to be hitting the shops in sprin and will be priced in the region of £150 and £300. Find out more infomration about Ofcom's decision to support YouView.

Complaints From Rivals

When any new company is setup, they are always a competitor for another company in one form or another. Even though this service has never been seen before the main competitors are Virgin Media and Sky. Both of these household names will be impacted when the free service is lauched in 2011. We already know that official complaints have been raised with Ofcom. Specifically on the 3rd August 2010 it was Virgin who first made a complaint, their point was that Project Canvas would act as a anti-competitive cartel that would basically destroy the slowly growing internet TV market. They are also trying to get this taken to the next level and raising the complaint with the Office of Fair Trading. Their grounds being that this project 'breaches the Competition Act'. Basically we think they are just scared, after all, why would people continue to pay for a service that they can essentially get for free!