BBC and ITV plan set-top catch-up service

Posted on 12 Dec 2008 at 09:44

BThe BBC is planning to develop a set-top box with a broadband connection to iPlayer as well as ITV’s catch-up service.

Dubbed Project Canvas, the service will also incorporate the corporation’s Freeview digital broadcasts as well as movies, web content and interactive TV.

The BBC explained that the proposal is a response to viewers’ demands for more services available through their television set.

“This proposal will bring catch-up from the PC to the TV set in your living room, and all for free. This makes convergence a reality. It will also future-proof our free-to-air platforms, Freeview and Freesat,” said the ITV executive chairman, Michael Grade.

Canvas will sit alongside the proposed Kangaroo service, which is currently being redrawn after the Competition Commission rejected it in its current form.

The BBC and ITV they will look at signing deals with Kangaroo and other services such as YouTube, in fact anyone who wants to put their content through the set-top box. But they say it is too early to start talking about specific content deals, given that the first product based on the partnership is unlikely to hit the market until 2010.

Canvas will also be available on Freesat.

Author: Simon Aughton

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