The Project Canvas joint venture, which is developing an "open standard" for putting UK broadband television services directly into homes via ISPs and IPTV set-top-boxes (STB), has regained the support of Channel Five.Five dropped out of the joint venture between the BBC , ITV , BT , TalkTalk , Channel 4 and Arqiva after it was put up for sale and began a review of its digital strategy. However the channel was recently acquired by Northern & Shell, which promptly placed it back into the mix.
Northern & Shell Chairman, Richard Desmond, said:
"Project Canvas is set to shape the future of broadcasting and open up new and exciting possibilities for viewers. This is important to the future of Channel Five and having an open internet-connected TV platform fits closely with our plans to bring brilliant new content and interactive services to viewers. We’re delighted to renew Channel Five’s commitment to supporting Project Canvas following a review of our digital strategy."
"Project Canvas is set to shape the future of broadcasting and open up new and exciting possibilities for viewers. This is important to the future of Channel Five and having an open internet-connected TV platform fits closely with our plans to bring brilliant new content and interactive services to viewers. We’re delighted to renew Channel Five’s commitment to supporting Project Canvas following a review of our digital strategy."
Richard Halton, Director of Project Canvas, said:
"Channel Five has already made a major contribution to Project Canvas and we’re delighted to have them back on board. This is great recognition of how important Canvas is to the future of television."
"Channel Five has already made a major contribution to Project Canvas and we’re delighted to have them back on board. This is great recognition of how important Canvas is to the future of television."
Project Canvas is due to be incorporated this Summer and hopes to launch its first consumer products in 2011, although such plans could be delayed after Virgin Media lodged an official competition complaint with Ofcom (here). Virgin's complaint also has the support of BSkyB ( Sky Broadband ).
If the incorporation proceeds as planned then it could be taken as a signal that the partners are confident in rebuffing Virgin's complaint, so much so that they would be willing to stake a future investment worth between £100m-£200m on the line.
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