The BBC's much publicised VOD service is to get the green light this week, albeit with some restrictions put in place.
Project Canvas has risen from the online ashes of Project Kangaroo, with the BBC hoping the service would act as a VOD platform for internet-enabled set-top boxes.
The service is a joint venture between the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five, BT and Carphone Warehouse, and if successful it will be the first time TV on the web (like iPlayer) will be given a mainstream broadcast platform.
Provisional ruling
The Financial Times is reporting that the BBC Trust has given a "provisional ruling" that the service is green-lit with minor modifications to happen before its proposed 2010 launch.
It is not clear what changes need to be made, but Sky will be looking on eagerly to see what Project Canvas will actually look like.
Sky, alongside Sony, has been critical of the BBC's VOD idea, as it "potentially stifles innovation", explaining: "I'd be concerned if they thought that the platform business and the distribution business is something that they really need to address."
If the BBC is successful with Project Canvas, we should see Freeview boxes with the software come into the market some time in 2010, with prices to be between £100 and £200.
Project Canavas has announced on Twitter that there will be an announcement tomorrow at 10am UK time regarding the BBC Trust's decision - so, stay tuned.
Via FT.com
Your comments (3) Click to add a new comment
m185874
December 22nd 2009
3. I agree with the two previous posters. It's not as if Sky have done any innovation at all, really. Their original TV service was on the back of someone else's technology, and everything else they have done up to and including their HD+ boxes just follows others' work. They should stop being a parasite and start showing some leadership if they want whinges like this to be taken seriously.
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watcherzero
December 22nd 2009
2. Indeed, the BBC's tech labs have set TV and Digital standards adopted round the world for decades.
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mattdoc30
December 21st 2009
1. I think Sky should stop whining and prepare themselves for some proper competition. I don't see any problem if the BBC are one of a number of commercial companies involved and as long as the BBC offers its content to other service providers. A standardized format is what we need, not another HDDVD/Blueray scenario, once the standard has been set we'll start seeing TVs with the service and better yet code for XBOX and Playstation (meaning we don't have to spend £200 on a separate book - I hope). It'll be especially interesting to see what happens as TiVo rejoins the UK market!
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