YouView launch confirmed for next week

Lord Sugar will lead the launch of open internet connected television (IPTV) platform YouView, the board of which he chairs, on 4 July.

YouView is supported by BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5 and ITV as well as communications companies Arqiva, BT and TalkTalk.

Around 350 homes were subject to YouView testing earlier this month in the second wave of tests for the delayed initiative, first announced back in September 2010.

It is thought that a YouView box, which according to the John Lewis summer technology brochure allows viewers to access their “favourite digital TV, video-on-demand and Internet catch-up services from BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, 4oD and others” through a TV and broadband connection, will cost around £300.

According to the Financial Times, boxes are not expected to be widely available to the general public until later this year.

Last year, a Virgin Media executive criticised YouView for “missing the boat” in launching the service, which was due to be ready by the end of 2010.

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