大象传媒

The first time I saw a home recording device was in 1978, when a friend told me that he had a way for me to see the Carol Burnett/Dolly Parton TV special I'd missed.

VCRs were still unheard of at that point, but in any case that wasn't what he had: he had a reel-to-reel video tape recorder. It had no programming ability, so he had an elaborate setup of timers to make it record the right channel at the right time, but - the key thing - we got to see the show! Even though we'd been out when it was broadcast!

VCRs of course made all this less complicated, but the legendary flashing 鈥�00:00鈥� on so many of them is a testament to how little improvement there was for the next two decades. TiVo changed everything by inventing the personal (digital) video recorder. TiVo largely failed in the UK due to marketing problems, but they are still loved enough to command a premium on eBay for one reason: the interface.

TiVo's key innovation was to create a video recording system that anyone could use. The key element is electronic programme guide (EPG) data; users can pick programmes off the schedule or search by keyword, title, or subject, or push a button to record a whole series.

And so to YouView, due to launch sometime in 2012. Formerly known as Project Canvas, YouView is a joint venture between the 大象传媒, ITV, Five, and Channel 4 鈥� together with British Telecom, TalkTalk, and the infrastructure company Arqiva. We won't be seeing YouView boxes for some months yet, but the plan calls for the boxes to combine the best elements of personal video recorders with the catch-up functions of on-demand services like the 大象传媒 iPlayer and the flexible access to content off the internet. For the first time, there will be a single interface unifying all these modes so you can search for programmes backwards in time as well as forwards and watch internet video on your TV set.

The key to user acceptance will be the programme guide and the interface. The key to industry acceptance will be more complicated. The intention is that commercial broadcasters will be able to offer pay services over YouView. Still, some companies, such as Virgin and Sky, have complained that the venture is unfair competition; other commentators have questioned whether building it is an inappropriate use of the licence fee. A third group believes the technical standards underlying the platform should be more open, ensuring widespread access to those wishing to build compatible equipment and services. However, the 大象传媒 Trust has demanded that the 大象传媒 publishes detailed technical specifications and information about changes as early as possible so that manufacturers and content providers have time to adapt their technology.

It's a reasonable analogy to compare an open platform to the World Wide Web and a controlled one to Apple's app store. Both of those approaches have created innovative content and services. But if the web had been controlled the way the app store is, it would be much smaller and much more limited than it is today.

We will have to see whether YouView is evolution or revolution.