Freeview and Digital UK have announced plans to develop a new Freeview-branded connected TV service which will make the best of broadcast and on-demand TV available free for everyone.
The two companies’ shareholders, which include the BBC, Channel 4 and ITV, have said that they will back a five-year plan to support the development and marketing of a connected TV proposition, ultimately giving viewers easy access to both broadcast and on-demand TV.
According to a report in the Guardian, the shareholders have agreed to pay £100m-plus to secure the deal.
Ilse Howling, previously managing director of Freeview, has been appointed to the role of managing director, Connected TV and Digital UK, and will lead a new team to develop the product specification for the new service, working in close co-orporation with manufacturers and industry bodies on open standards.
Freeview’s former marketing communications director, Guy North, has taken over the role as managing director of Freeview and will lead the team responsible for TV advertising and marketing campaigns, aiming to launch a new range of connected Freeview HD TVs and boxes.
“Digital terrestrial television is a great success story of British broadcasting and plays a vital role in the overall health of our TV sector,” said Jonathan Thompson, chief executive of Digital UK.
“This announcement marks a critical step in the next stage of the platform’s development, ensuring that it will remain as relevant, important and valued by viewers in the future as it is today.”
Earlier this year, the seven shareholders in rival platform YouView, which also include the BBC, Channel 4 and ITV, alongside BT, TalkTalk and Arqiva, renewed their terms of contract to continue to invest in the platform for another five years, however it was reported that five of the shareholders would be reducing their financial contributions.
