Developed by BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, Arqiva, BT and Talk Talk, YouView combines broadcast channels with broadband delivered content from catch-up services such as the BBC’s iPlayer and 4oD.
Sky’s NOW TV service is also available, offering pay per view films and a movie season pass on flexible terms. Sky has said it will add TV and sport content at a later date and other content providers are expected to be announced soon.
On Saturday the service aired its first ad during ITV’s The X Factor and ran a series of print ads in major newspapers.
The public launch comes two months after the service was unveiled to the UK’s media and a ‘soft launch’ which saw boxes ship just before the Olympics.
Earlier this week YouView Chairman Lord Sugar, said: “We are now available in multiple retail outlets nationwide and are looking forward to offering this simple-to-use box to customers through BT and TalkTalk, further supporting our desire to provide extraordinary TV for everyone.”
The TV advert – embedded below – includes appearances by major British TV stars and characters including the Daleks, Sherlock’s Benedict Cumberbatch, Alan Carr, Downton Abbey’s Maggie Smith and Shameless star David Threlfall.
