YouView TV Ltd is all set to bring forth better and a wider range of on demand TV services in UK. Formed as joint TV venture between  BBC, ITV, BT, Channel 4, Channel 5, Talk Talk and Arqiva, YouView TV is likely to be launched in the first half of 2011.

Project Canvas, the much talked upon a joint TV venture between BBC, ITV, BT, Channel 4, Channel 5, Talk Talk and Arqiva was formally incorporated as YouView TV Ltd towards the end of last week. The Innovation Partners for this venture are Technicolor, Humax and Cisco. The YouView is expected to be live in the first half of 2011.

YouView is supposed to be a standard based and open Internet connected TV environment. YouView is slated to evolve as a new consumer brand which will enhance the TV viewing experience. The free-to-air platforms which were offering negligible or uninteresting content to their viewer will now be airing a wide and expansive choice of content. Richard Halton emphasized on Freeview channel which faces the grave risk of being left unnoticed by the viewers. As per the projections undertaken by the YouView Company, more than 7 million homes which use Freeview and broadband users will be primary users of YouView.

By offering the customers with unlimited choice on the free-to-air platform, they will be simply amazed at the variety offered to them. As per the planning by the YouView group, customers can access pay content, check out what is available and also enjoy on demand subscription content.

YouView set top boxes will be equipped with a programme guide which will enable customers to view past week’s programmes as well upcoming programmes. You can view programmes from BBC TV, Channel 4 and 5 which are already on the on demand scene. These boxes will also function as PVR, enabling customers to pause live TV and even record programmes of their choice.

With regards to their availability and prices, these YouView boxes will be available on a one-off fee with no contracts. To broadband customers, they will be available at a special offer through an upgraded connection or a new connection.

Richard Halton is going to head the entire operations of YouView TV LTD. The appointment of Richard Halton seems quite appropriate as he has initiated the entire strategy coupled with previous experience as head of the BBC’s Corporate Strategy team and a former board member of Freeview.