Broadband-TV Joint Venture From BT, BBC and ITV in Trouble

BBC, BT and ITV has clubbed together to realize the concept of playing the PC catch up on the television. This package that has been named Project Canvas is expected to cost the partners an amount around GBP 24 million for the final roll out. This concept aims at providing those customers with a Freeview and a broadband connection to access on-demand programming and catch-up from online services such as ITV Player and BBC iPlayer through their television.

However, the recent reports reveal that the telecom watchdog of the UK, Ofcom has placed a tough hurdle in the path of Project Canvas, wrapped up as a competition investigation threat. As a matter of fact, the BBC Trust has been warned by Ofcom that their venture would be passing through similar regulatory scrutiny that had sent Project Kangaroo to the oblivion.

Another interesting fact relating to the story is the desperate attempts from the part of the partner companies to free Project Canvas from the widely anticipated tag of Son of Kangaroo. They argue that the fresh venture was all about a technological platform open to all content owners to bring TV on-demand and catch-up to services such as Freesat or Freeview.