YouView Developing Voice Controlled TV Experience with Amazon Alexa

Focusing on voice control across a range of devices, YouView are one of the first developers worldwide to work with the new Alexa Video Skill API. YouView will harness the power of its cloud infrastructure to make it even easier for viewers to interact with YouView's broad range of content and apps through voice.

The voice-controlled experience could ultimately be available to all 2.4 million connected YouView set top box devices, including those provided by ISP partners TalkTalk and BT as well as devices bought by retail customers. YouView devices will support Alexa voice control through Amazon's Echo and Echo Dot or other Alexa-enabled devices, enabling users to search for their favourite content, navigate around YouView's award winning user interface, play content and use trick play, all without having to lift a finger.

Fani Sazaklidou, Executive Creative and Brand Director of YouView says:

We are delighted to be one of the first to work with Amazon to enable a video voice skill via Alexa. It is a great and very natural next step on YouView's journey, extending the value of our cloud based Next Generation' platform, which we have successfully rolled out to over two million homes.

The deep integration will mean that YouView viewers can simply say Change the channel to BT Sport 1', Go to More TV' or Play Eastenders' to watch their favourite content.

We're excited to be working with YouView to create a hands-free television experience through Alexa, said Fabrice Rousseau, General Manager, Alexa Skills Kit EU. Voice control of TV will make customers' lives easier it's a natural way to find the content you want, and will reduce the time you spend looking for the remote or finding the right channel. Just ask Alexa, and she'll take care of it for you.

Aleks Habdank, Managing Director, TV at TalkTalk says:

We constantly challenge ourselves to identify key technology that will improve our TV service, and allow our customers to easily access the huge range of content available on the platform. Amazon Alexa is a prime example of the kind of innovation that we look to invest in and are incredibly excited to see the results of this partnership, building upon the successful rollout of Next Generation YouView which started last year.

Commenting on the announcement, Laurie Patten our Director of Strategy and Ventures, Terrestrial Broadcast said:

This pilot to integrate Amazon Alexa voice control into YouView demonstrates the power and flexibility of the hybrid DTT / IP model. As Arqiva's representative on the YouView Board, I am excited that YouView is leading the way to show what can be achieved by bringing these technologies and new products together to deliver a richer experience for TV viewers.

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youview

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