Sky, Film4 and Lovefilm are included on a list on content partners interested in working with delayed hybrid project YouView.
The full list comprises Blinkbox, Blinkx, BSkyB, Film4oD, Golant Media Ventures, Guardian News & Media, IndieMoviesOnline, Lovefilm, Pushbutton, Radioplayer, Stream UK, STV, Travel Channel, Tvinci, UTV and woomi.
BSkyB’s interest in the project had already been registered, but in a list which could be said as containing the usual suspects, there are also a few surprises. Although as a shareholder in the project commercial channel ITV is not present on the list it will presumably make a contribution. STV, the commercial television provider in Scotland, and its Northern Ireland equivalent UTV are on the list.
However, a spokesman for BSkyB said the satcaster’s involvement in YouView was by no means certain: “We already distribute Sky content across a wide range of platforms. “It makes sense for us to continue to explore new ways of reaching customers, but it’s too early to say at this stage whether we’ll offer a service over YouView.”
Of multichannel services the independent Travel Channel is the only such provider outside of BSkyB.
Alcatel-Lucent, Blinkx, Capablue, Deluxe, easeltv, IMD, ioko, Kaltura, Nativ, Ooyala, Red Bee Media, Technicolor, TripleSEE and Twofour form the technology and service providers’ advisory group.
“We’re delighted with the response we’ve had from the creative industries,” said Richard Halton, CEO, YouView. “We want all types of content providers to be able to deliver their content via YouView so viewers get the best possible choice.
“The diversity and expertise of the organisations that are informing our development will ensure that YouView is able to support a potentially unlimited range of content in the future.”
All content providers – including those that form its advisory group – will be invited by YouView to confirm their formal intention to making content available via the platform later this year.
