This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Media
C4 and TalkTalk join Canvas
By CMU Editorial | Published on Thursday 17 December 2009
Channel 4 and internet firm TalkTalk have joined Project Canvas, the previously reported collaboration of TV and net firms aiming to standardise the way TV-over-the-internet set top box type contraptions work. That means that the BBC, BT, ITV, C4, Five and TalkTalk are now all on board. Just watch Sky come along with something totally different and completely takeover the market.
Canvas bosses reckon the project will cost £115 million over four years, so obviously the more companies there are to share the cost the better. The project aims to facilitate the introduction of video-on-demand and internet-based services to Freeview-style set top boxes, providing something similar to what BT Vision are already doing.
Confirming C4 and TalkTalk’s involvement, Canvas boss Richard Halton told reporters: “The potential for innovation [here actually] goes far beyond bringing video on-demand to the TV set and there’s a huge opportunity for a wide range of new commercial models to thrive. We always wanted all the UK’s public service broadcasters and at least two ISPs to be involved in the venture at launch, so we’re delighted that Channel 4 and TalkTalk have joined the project”.
As previously reported, the BBC’s involvement is still reliant on the venture getting BBC Trust approval. Some – well Sky mainly – feel that the BBC throwing its weight behind one standard is a misuse of its privileged position. Presumably they’d think differently if they threw their weight behind a standard that Sky endorsed.
