[Newshound47]

No. This is basically Freeview but over the internet and IPTV, rather than nearby transmitters. Gives them a first stab at a full IPTV service in preparation for when the Government inevitably pulls the plug on terrestrial TV transmission to make way for 6G or whatever we end up with by then. 

Obvious benefits- every channel SHOULD be available in HD minimum; better integration with iPlayer, Channel 4 Online and ITVX; possibly more channels. I suspect a postcode or pick-your-region system will be implemented for regional variants and to shove S4C on EPG slot 4 in Wales. 

Obvious issue is internet coverage in rural areas is hit-and-miss, although this should be ironed out well before the Government pull the plug on the transmitters.

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It didn’t make a whole lot of sense at the time and you could argue it denied the UK the one real chance at producing something half-capable of taking on Netflix and co. Together with Ofcom taking an eternity in regulating said services, it’s permanently put the UK on the backfoot. 

I know iPlayer, Channel 4 Online and ITVX are popular and generally good services, but Kangaroo was a massive, massive, MASSIVE missed opportunity.

It’s estimated to take another ten years or more  to get Wifi speeds across the country to all be fast enough for streaming to work in every house.