Over the next few months some 2.5 million UK owners of a YouView (IPTV) based set-top-box, which includes TalkTalk and BT’s broadband-based TV subscribers, will start to benefit from a major “next generation” update that will enable the platform to do more, work faster and harness Cloud technology.
Apparently the new update is akin to a “re-engineering and redesigning of its entire platform,” which the Joint Venture (JV) claims will deliver a new “simpler, more streamlined and image-led interface” (rendered using the HTML 5 standard). Owners should also benefit from improvements to how content is presented and chosen.
Some other benefits of the upgrade:
* Less clicking and more watching with a new visual Main Menu from which viewers can launch all services.
* A faster playback experience on Live, IP channels and On Demand.
* Great content discovery with a visual, simple, seamless and non-intrusive user experience.
* Quicker access to Players and Apps with a new more inclusive front page.
* A full-screen, faster Guide, allowing viewers to watch, record or catch up on the content they love.
* A new visual MiniGuide, allowing viewers to catch up with what was on and see what’s on now, next and in the future.
* A personal TV library of recordings with the new MyTV*, formally MyView, where viewers can see more recordings.
So far BT has already revealed their plans for the update, which among other things will include a new “image-rich” user interface (UI) that should also make it easier to access channels / on-demand content and many other things (here). Apparently BT’s software upgrade will begin during early 2017.
Meanwhile TalkTalk has today announced that their TV customers (1.3 million) will be able to enjoy this first, as it will be rolled out from Monday 28th Nov next week. TalkTalk also noted that customers won’t lose any of their existing recordings when they upgrade, which has in the past been a problem for similar updates to rival platforms.
Richard Halton, CEO of YouView, said:
“This is just the beginning of a whole new chapter for YouView and for our shareholders, content partners, their advertisers and our viewers. We believe great content deserves the best experience and by the time this rollout is completed, every YouView box will feel like a whole new product, which will continuously improve.
Our move to the Cloud gives us the opportunity to make large scale changes, add functionality and enhance features in days or weeks, rather than the months or years it can take for other traditional TV platforms to do the same.
Having worked in close collaboration with our shareholders, particularly with BT and TalkTalk, our Next-Gen platform can rapidly adapt to the changing tastes and TV demands of future viewers, all without the need for a new set top box.”
YouView has also announced that it will be rebranding with a new logo, new website and support site to enhance the overall experience for all customers.
However the full roll-out may take several months to complete and reach all of the relevant set-top-boxes, so it’s best to be patient. Just make sure to keep the box connected or you might not receive it.
Comments are closed