Ofcom relishing Google vs Sky vs YouView
IPTV has come of age
Ofcom's director of strategy for the UK Jonathan Thompson is excited by the prospect of a battle between Sky, Virgin Media, YouView and Google TV for the 'homepage of your television'.
The delayed YouView, now not arriving for consumers until 2012, is still a potential game changer according to Thompson, in an interview conducted for IP&TV World Forum 2011, but he is well aware of the power of some of the other players.
"The launch of YouView…is clearly a potentially very significant development, given the breadth of experience and presence the shareholders have between them," said Thompson.
Interesting times
"But it is also exciting that there are many other products coming from players including Virgin's TiVo box, Sky Anytime Plus and Google TV and I'm sure more to come, particularly as smartphones and tablets start to complement the main screen," he added.
"Each of these players is battling to become the 'homepage' on the televisions for consumers' access to content."
Thompson believes that the past year has seen IPTV 'come of age', adding: "What's been fascinating about how the market has evolved is the range of different players entering the market from different parts of the value chain, including standalone VOD providers, TV and games platform operators, broadcasters and consumer electronics manufacturers."
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
Patrick Goss is the ex-Editor in Chief of TechRadar. Patrick was a passionate and experienced journalist, and he has been lucky enough to work on some of the finest online properties on the planet, building audiences everywhere and establishing himself at the forefront of digital content. After a long stint as the boss at TechRadar, Patrick has now moved on to a role with Apple, where he is the Managing Editor for the App Store in the UK.
Marvel gives exciting update about the MCU's future after Avengers: Secret Wars, and it'll be all about the X-Men: 'It really leads us into a new age of mutants'
How to watch CMA Awards 2024 online – replay stream of the 58th Annual Country Music Association Awards from anywhere tonight as Jelly Roll performs live