At least someone is happy that YouView has been delayed. Virgin Media thought it would be able to make a significant profit from the delay in the YouView launch, as it will give the telecommunications giant a chance to get some cash from its own IPTV service before any other company.

Virgin Media's internet TV powered by TiVo is scheduled for release in 2011, way ahead of BT and TalkTalk's among other companies' joint venture - YouView.

Chief Executive of Virgin Media, Neil Berkett, spoke to the Financial Times and said that the broadband provider would undoubtedly take advantage of any hold-ups in competitors' products and services.

Mr Berkett was quoted as saying:

"The way in which customers are watching their entertainment is changing and we're at the leading edge of that."

According Virgin Media's calculations, its TiVo-powered service received roughly 50,000 pre-registrations.

The service will enable consumers to watch television delivered via the internet using the customers' broadband services.