BBC's Canvas faces objection from Digital TV Group

February 08, 2010

Source: MM Network

By: Media Mughals

Stating Project Canvas, as “not fully engaging with the industry”, The Digital TV Group has criticized this video-on-demand venture of BBC in its latest submission to the BBC Trust. Canvas facilitates viewers to receive online content of BBC iPlayer and ITV Player on their TV sets through a set top box. The subscription is available free for the consumers. Project Canvas is consolidated venture from big broadcasting and broadband players like BBC, ITV, Channel 4, BT, Talk Talk and Five.

Canvas was a strong initiative to develop "stronger triple service" (Phone/TV/Broadband) as the rulers of entertainment providing industry in a combined manner. This was also to offer a perfect platform for new debutants in content market. But Digital TV Group, an organization of more than 100 players of the domain such as BSKyB, Freeview, Dixons, Samsung and Pace has registered a strong objection against Canvas to the BBC. In their claim they have stated that the project doesn’t include stakeholder’s views into consideration. They have also said that it is unmanageable for them to produce an open, industry wide technology standard compatible for every member.

A point raised in the submission letter of DTG says, "There remains widespread concern in the industry that there is a parallel process in place with a Canvas specification being developed between the Canvas joint venture and its innovation partners separately from, and regardless of, the DTG's Connected TV specification work."