TalkTalk has confirmed that free-to-view smart TV service YouView will launch later this summer (should summer arrive in the UK this year).
The latest adjustment to YouView’s launch slot was announced in TalkTalk’s annual results, and targets July to September, 2012.
YouView launch dates have slipped from September 2011, to January 2012, Easter, ‘late Spring’, and most recently ‘before the Olympics’.
TalkTalk is currently conducting a small ‘friends and family’ trial which will be extended to its customers soon.
TalkTalk CEO Dido Harding said: “Our triple play proposition that will feature YouView, is on track for launch during Q2 FY13*.
“YouView will bring to our customers all of the ‘plug-in-and-watch’ simplicity of Freeview, plus the UK’s leading Internet catch-up and video on-demand services, all instantly available through one simple, intuitive set-top box and proprietary electronic programme guide.
“Development within the YouView team is progressing well and within TalkTalk we are making good progress on provisioning capability, as well as operational and CRM readiness to support our TV service within our existing operational structures.”
YouView is a joint venture between the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, TalkTalk, BT and Arqiva to create a successor to combine Freeview HD with on-demand services such as iPlayer and Blinkbox.
It’s currently chaired by Lord Alan Sugar, star of TV’s The Apprentice and Twitter self-promoter, whose appointment last year doesn’t appear to have prevented further delays.
* TalkTalk’s financial year runs from April 1 to March 31, so Q2 is July-September.
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