Allowing viewers the choice to ignore commercials could possibly threaten the free-programming model that has dominated television for so many decades, and even cut into broadcasters' revenue streams.

FORBES: SonicBlue Forced To Spy

In addition, Virgin Media has integrated YouTube clips and channels more deeply in TiVo's 'My Shows' and 'Search and Browse' areas, giving viewers the widest choice in how to access entertainment.

ENGADGET: Virgin Media adds a YouTube channel to TiVo's guide, ensures you can't escape kitty clips

It wants to launch four new TV channels and five new radio stations, all funded by the recent increase in the licence fee, to broaden the choice available to digital viewers and listeners.

BBC: Digital: Booming or doomed?

Also up for the People's Choice award, voted for by viewers, are Norton, Whitehall, Brand, Millican and David Mitchell.

BBC: Miranda Hart leads comedy awards nominations

Viewers in Birmingham in the West Midlands, do not have anything like the same choice in local news as their US counterparts.

BBC: Could US-style local TV work in the UK?

However, I'd point out that Windows 8 gives you a choice the first time you open a picture or video of switching to the traditional desktop viewers.

WSJ: Mossberg's Mailbox: A New View on Windows