The Connected Consumer: YouView – “Only proposition with the Five Apps Everyone Wants”

Panel debate from the Business Models and Platforms session at MediaTel Group’s Connected Consumer conference yesterday.

Nigel Walley, MD of Decipher, is coming round to YouView. Nigel, who along with many others in the industry had previously spoken of a product that was simply too late, has been sold on at least one aspect of the new service.

“YouView is the only proposition that has the five apps everyone wants. Smart TVs don’t have these and do have many more we probably don’t want.” The apps Nigel refers to are the catch up player services from all the main broadcasters.

Emma Scott, MD of Freesat, described it as a “defensive investment to protect programme content.” The new service is not moving any mountains at Sony HQ, according to Proposition Development Manager, Edd Uzzell, who bemoaned the fact that there is not one single BBC-backed product available. “The consumer purchase is complex. We (Sony) won’t focus too heavily on YouView if it’s difficult to do so as it’s just a UK proposition. There’s no added benefit for us.”

Damien Read, BT Vision’s general manager of products and propositions, was more positive. Not surprising, given that BT is a YouView partner – “It’s not too expensive or too late, and it resonates with the customer.”

Dan Kerven, media analyst at event hosts, BOAML, felt it was in a strong position given the support from both BT and Talk Talk.

The last point seemed to be proven anecdotally as event delegates got to see the first YouView box at the event yesterday, and at Friday’s i-Burbia sessions. There were audible murmurs of approval.