The subject of IPTV has been in the headlines on and off for some time now and while it has suffered from a number of false starts it appears as though the BBC is set to pick up the baton and take it forward. The BBC Trust is currently debating a project named “Project Canvas” which is centred round Internet protocol TV (IPTV) which many see as the television medium of the future. So what exactly is “Project Canvas”?
Project Canvas is in effect a new television broadcasting platform which will be delivered via set-top boxes and will cost between £100 and £200. It is anticipated that the initial boxes, if the project goes ahead, will allow users to view BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 programmes via their broadband connections using the IPTV technology. Many people will remember the “Kangaroo” project, which is in some ways very similar to the Project Canvas idea, and the fact it was blocked by the regulators. So what is the difference?
The difference between the two projects is the fact that Project Canvas would be structured in such a way as to allow other TV companies and media operations to climb aboard at a later stage and use the delivery system for their own transmissions. In effect it would be very similar to an open source media delivery operation although it would be under the umbrella of the BBC Trust.