Youview

A while ago I wondered why Alan Sugar never got into the Freeview PVR market a few years back. But he has seem to have got involved with this project, an IPTV system backed by the non-Sky major broadcasters.

On paper it is interesting, the proposition is that there is still a market for buying the box upfront and not getting involved with any contract or subscription. But it is running late, and is probably missing its window (it would have picked up sales during the digital switchover). Also now internet enabled TV's are becoming more common place, really nothing more than a custom portal on iPlayer type services - there is stiff competition to buying yet another box.

There do seem to be concerns about this consortium overstepping the BBC remit to public service broadcaster (you could argue that catch up services like iPlayer have already done that). I kind of agree, but unless it turns into a success that's not a major problem.