October 24, 2016

YouView

 

YouView is the UK’s premier on-demand TV service, delivering over 70 free-to-air TV channels and seven day catch-up on programs provided by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five, BT, Talk Talk and Arqiva, as well as various online on-demand providers. YouView set-top boxes are now offered as part of broadband subscription bundles from Talk Talk, BT and Plusnet, and available to purchase subscription-free from various independent retailers. YouView now has a two million-strong viewer base and counting.

 

The Challenge

 

As well as free-to-view and on demand services, YouView also offers pay-on-demand content. One of the key challenges in setting up this distribution was being to identify the initial set-up of the set-top boxes on Talk Talk, BT or Plusnet ISP lines, making sure the relevant branding and services were provided, and ensuring that the set-top box accurately surfaced the relevant ISP features.

 

The Solution

YouView employed Digital Element to help them implement a system that would enable them to deploy IP intelligence data so that the relevant service package can be delivered. Digital Elements patented technology employs methods such as Internet routing infrastructure analysis, and is the most accurate and granular provider of global data sets, with a 99 per cent accuracy rate at country level. Another important feature is maintaining a flexible user experience. Sunit Kotchea, Operations Director at YouView, says: “From the moment a YouView set-top box is installed in a home, it needs to reflect the brand, features and content offering of our partner ISPs, and ensure ISP migrations are instantly recognised and updated on in-situ YouView set-top boxes. The content delivered needs to change automatically and seamlessly for a superior customer experience.

“The YouView 24×7 platform relies on Digital Element providing the frequency of updates, the highly accurate IP data and the technical solutions.”

 

The Result

Youview now benefits from regular, automatic updates and has access to the most accurate data available in the industry, which is still compliant with stakeholders’ legal requirements. With the help of Digital Element, Youview is able to offer a user experience that is truly personalised, and provide a premium service to its users.