Wikipedia
YouView is a hybrid TV platform in the United Kingdom, developed by a partnership of three telecommunications operators and four broadcasters. It was formed from a project originally titled "Project Canvas", which was rebranded as YouView in September 2010. The service was due to launch by the end of that year, but was delayed until 4 July 2012. At its launch, YouView's then-Chairman Alan Sugar stated his ambition for the service to replace Freeview devices.
YouView provides access to free-to-air Digital Terrestrial Television channels (both DTT and DVB-T2 channels in common with the Freeview television platform) and to TV on demand (catch-up TV) services via a 'hybrid' set-top box purchased by users, connected with both a broadband Internet connection and a normal television aerial. No contract is required, and there is no subscription charge. Catch-up and on-demand content is delivered over the Internet, which may be chargeable by the Internet service provider (ISP) or subject to limits and fair usage clauses.
YouView boxes collect user data and send it to YouView. This includes logs of what the user watches, where they are located, and other data from the box, such as when the user uses subtitles. YouView shares this information with Youview's service providers, and Youview's content providers (unless the user opts out of the sharing), and with other parties under restrictions. YouView and its providers may combine the personal data with information about the user obtained from third-party data brokers. The information may be sold in aggregate for commercial use. It may also be used to customize content (programmes and regionalised ads) and monitor the user's compliance with copyright law and DRM. Information may be kept indefinitely.
Youview and its providers may also store and use cookies and local data (clearable by doing a factory reset), in accordance with their individual privacy policies. Some other smart TV and IPTV systems have similar privacy policies.
BT and TalkTalk have each partnered with YouView, allowing BT subsidiaries BT TV & Plusnet TV and TalkTalk TV customers to access the service, along with BT's and TalkTalk's own offerings. Both companies provide customers with their own branded YouView set-top box.