The UK Open Source Consortium (OSC) has joined broadband ISP Virgin Media in lodging a formal complaint with Ofcom against Project Canvas (YouView). Canvas aims to deliver an open standard for delivering subscription-free broadband ISP based internet TV services directly into homes via special £100-£200 set-top-boxes, although the OSC claims it will result in yet another walled garden experience.

The project is part of a Joint Venture (JV) between broadcasters and ISPs, most prominently including the BBC , ITV , BT , TalkTalk , Channel 4, FIVE and Arqiva. It recently won fresh support from 40 consumer device manufacturers (here) but is also the subject of a significant competition complaint by Virgin Media (here).


Admittedly the OSC's complaint doesn't carry as much weight as Virgin Media, although it will bring something potentially more important to the table. On its own Virgin Media would be viewed as merely attempting to protect its market position, but with the likes of the OSC, IP Vision United and Six TV now also joining the fray, greater credibility is being given to these concerns.

Despite the problems, Project Canvas and its Joint Venture (JV) partners are still pressing ahead with plans to become "incorporated this summer". The service itself is expected to become available at some point during the first half of 2011. However we wouldn't be surprised to see Ofcom extracting a few additional concessions before then.