It has been a runaway success in the US especially with Hulu, but now catch up tv is really taking off in Europe.

There has been a massive growth in catch up tv streams in the United Kingdom with services like the BBC iPlayer attracting millions of viewers across the web, allowing users to view TV content anytime and anyplace with an internet connection.

Across the pond in Germany as well, the tv companies have a service allowing viewers to watch streams from the previous week via pc or laptop. In the UK, the BBC along with several partners are working with internet enabled tv sets to bring catch up TV and interactive services to television sets within the next few months.

The new internet enabled television sets use over the air transmission as well as broadband connection to give more choice to viewers. Supporters say it will open up possibilities similar to Apple’s iPhone, which allows independent developers to create customized applications. They envision watching a cooking program that ends with a page of links to similar, archived shows or to the Web sites of online retailers selling the ingredients.

Due to a slight hesitancy the European television networks allow either separate internet surfing or television viewing. Although many broadcasters are worried about undermining their current business models, TV advertising revenue is so low that many are reconsidering.

A big tv project currently under consideration is Project Canvas, a hybrid TV partnership that grew out of Freeview, a digital, over-the-air TV system that broadcasts signals at no charge to viewers. Freeview is the main TV system in 10 million of the 25 million UK homes with televisions.

Canvas would use the Freeview system to provide regularly scheduled programming, while a broadband connection would deliver Internet services as well as on-demand content. While some of these programs might require payment, nobody would have to subscribe. The BBC Trust, which oversees the BBC, is set to rule this autumn on whether Project Canvas will proceed.

The German internet enabled TV project, which has lined up support from several French broadcasters and a range of technology companies, is less far reaching and seeks to create a set of hybrid TV standards for broadcasters and makers of televisions and set-top boxes. Broadcasters could then create and market their own hybrid services.

Pretty soon the world will be watching internet tv even if some of them do not even realise.

Incoming TV searches:

catch up Tv usage europe, catchuptv

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