UK TV rivals to launch online TV on-demand service

UK’s TV networks such as BBC, Channel 4, ITV are planning to launch a joint online TV on-demand service that will provide content from all channels. The unnamed new service is likely to be launched in 2008.

The new service will include free downloading, purchases through internet, streaming and more. Shows will be locally produced content and perhaps US and non-British content. According to reports so far, the new service is believed to be available to the residents of UK only.

BBC has described the importance of the new service as remarkable, To take the deal to a more viewpoint it ought to be like NBC,CBS and Fox holding together for a joint gateway where their shows would be available on demand, for download, purchase etc. But the biggest winner will be the British viewer who will have access to TV content on the net. Recently BBC had problems with its iPlayer service which had delays, then was attacked for being available to Windows users only.
The channels launching the service said that the new service will be first launched online and then it will be made available on other platforms as well. Viewers will be able to watch the content free. The venture will be owned similarly and will work as independent.

Broadcasters hope by aggregating their content into one service they will cover competition from the prior services provided by other Internet upstarts like Joost and others.

For more on the topic check Media Guardian

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November 27, 2007 | Filed Under Internet, Tech News