As I write this YouView is a hot trending topic on Google Trends. Formerly know as Project Canvas, YouView will become the natural successor to FreeView. It works by streaming Free TV through the Internet to a box connected to your TV. This is an initiative funded by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, TalkTalk, BT, Arqiva and Channel 5 and will come out early 2011.

A new feature of the device is the ability to go back and watch selected programs that appeared within a week ago or even some programs that can be skipped forward to in time. This is complimented by the use of Apple iPhone/iPad like ‘Apps’ that people will also be able to include on their TVs.

The openness will allow developers to create apps that can connect with social networks sites and blogs, providing a new potential marketing platform.

YouView Marketing for Content Providers

I look forward to using YouView to promote my film work through creating my own portal site. Once you make your YouView portal, you can make your content available through the main YouView guide. This could be a great way for brands to get their message across to viewers as this feature is claimed to be open to everyone. I look forward to seeing how it will all work.

YouView Marketing for Developers

Developers will be able to makes apps for the TV, connected to backend services like social networking, music and video services, search providers and so on. Online marketing and TV advertising will converge together, and new industries may get created. Details on how the apps will work exactly are still quite sketchy, but as soon as we know, we will be the first to blog about it.