Canvas to compensate for Kangaroo?
February 25, 2009
The BBC's plans to create a "next-generation Freeview" – along with ITV and BT – the so-called Project Canvas – will face regulators' scrutiny as they will seek to establish it isn't the recently banned Project Kangaroo by another name.
As well as high-definition Freeview broadcasts, Canvas will bring on-demand viewing to the television, via the BBC iPlayer and ITVPlayer which largely run on PCs now. The BBC Trust, the corporation's governing body, will test whether the venture is in the interest of licence-fee payers and gauge its impact on the market.
Crucially for the regulators, Canvas will be an open platform, to which any other broadcaster or developer could add their content. It is hoped that Channel 4 and Five will also join the service, which is planned to launch in 2010. Any broadband provider will be able to offer a Canvas box on their network.