Set top box company YouView says it’s moving away from pushing generic software updates to all set top boxes in favour of ISP and retail specific versions.
A partnership between TalkTalk, BT and the UK’s Public Sector Broadcasters, YouView is available in two main variants – a contract free retail option, and as part of pay-TV and broadband packages from TalkTalk, BT and Plusnet.
Since launch all set top boxes have been updated in unison, with the same features and design changes rolled out to both retail and ISP provided boxes which also currently offer viewers the same mix of on-demand players and apps.
However this looks set to change after YouView announced it would now be offering “more flexibility for our partners to tailor their YouView offering according to their needs.”
The platform says that as a result of this new approach “devices may vary in functionality, features, Players or Apps.”
One of the first consequences of this new approach will be a change in how BT updates its first generation YouView boxes which the firm ceased offering in early 2014.
In a statement posted on its support forums, the ISP says:
“These boxes were designed for a range of services which were available at that time and now these services have evolved it’s putting extra strain on these boxes which can lead to poor performance.
“Our focus will now be on maintaining quality and performance of these boxes for you to continue to enjoy the features you have already, but you won’t be able to get all of the features that other boxes might get in the future.”
The firm also says it will “bring new features and updates to BT set top boxes based on our customer feedback rather than generic updates across BT, TalkTalk and Plusnet.”