YouView later?
The launch of YouView could be delayed by as much as 6 months due to technical problems and infighting, if rumours are to believed.
The Daily Mail has reported that sources said YouView's launch will be ‘pushed back' from its scheduled arrival this summer to as later as 2012.
YouView is expected to transform the way Brits watch TV and is designed to let consumers pause live TV, watch programmes on demand plus rent films over the internet.
While the newspaper's source reportedly said that technical problems plus a rumoured disagreement between partners could be responsible for the delay, YouView did not confirm or throw out the rumours.
YouView's spokeswoman told HEXUS: "We've said that our aspiration is to launch this Summer, however we are keeping this under review as our most important consideration is to get the service right."
Any possible delay could have big repercussions for YouView partner BT, which is reportedly relying on YouView to help it challenge Sky and drive its assault on the Pay TV market.
BT's boss Ian Livingstone reportedly reckons BT can win customers from Sky with a cheaper TV package. The Mail reported that Livingstone had hoped YouView would be up and running in time for the next football season, having recently won access to Sky Sport's channels.
Meanwhile, it is believed that ITV had hoped that YouView will revive its fortunes and cut its reliance on advertising alone.
The Daily Mail reported that its source revealed the project has stumbled because of arguments over the cost of the venture between YouView's 7 partners, which have each put £18m in the development pot that will cover 4 years of running costs too.
Another source apparently told the newspaper that YouView had underestimated how technically difficult the venture would be and set itself a rather too-tight deadline.
A BT spokesman apparently echoed YouView's ambition to launch on time and reportedly said: "We hope to launch this Summer."
