Broadband TV Standard Being Set Up Under ?Project Canvas?

UK Provider TalkTalk and popular terrestrial television Channel 4 have become the latest large groups to put their name down to work on Project Canvas. The project?s goal is to create an open environment for DTV receivers that are able to connect to broadband. In English, it will allow IPTV services to be used via standard television sets providing your box supports the technology. The project was started by the BBC, British Telecom and ITV.

Richard Halton, the programme director for Project Canvas said:

?The potential for innovation 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 Talk Talk have joined the project.?

?Today we?re inviting any further expressions of interest from other companies to join the venture. We hope that any other businesses that share a similar vision for internet-connected TV will want to be a part of this story.”

The companies will be working together to create an entirely new brand, technical specification and standards committee called the Digital Television group, although BBC involvement in the project is still subject to the approval of the BBC trust. This could be big news for fans of IPTV services and free-to-air television alike, as services like Freeview and FreeSat will gain access to a huge amount of on demand content that has previously only been available via services like Virgin Media or through the internet.

Of course, there are already boxes that exist to do such things, but it will still be nice to see them hit the mainstream under a single body and with some guaranteed standards put in place.

Recent Broadband Stories