TalkTalk to Start YouView Trials

LONDON: The U.K. broadband provider TalkTalk is set to launch an in-house trial of YouView, a service intended to bring VOD to Freeview, in early 2012.

The service, backed by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and BT, is to serve as a catch-up provider, with a set-top box allowing viewers to get all Freeview or Freesat channels.

TalkTalk will be giving 3,000 YouView set-top boxes for a "friends and family" trial, to "focus on the end-to-end customer experience." Trials are expected to start late this year or in early 2012; a full launch will follow with Freeview’s customer base of 8 million.

The company stated, "The launch of YouView next year will be a major development for TalkTalk and we are on track to offer a value for money product of phone, broadband and TV in spring 2012."