About the partners
The BBC
Project Canvas is a critical part of the BBC’s strategy for meeting its public purposes in the connected digital age. The BBC’s primary obligation is to ensure that all licence fee payers can access its digital services, and the BBC has a long history of helping build Digital Britain. The BBC’s unique position in the UK media industry, combined with not-for-profit values of openness, transparency and fairness means it is well positioned to add value to the partnership and ensure the partnership creates broader public value.
The BBC’s heritage in broadcast engineering partnerships means it has longstanding global networks, and is working on the project in partnership with European bodies (EBU, OIPF and HBBTV) to develop interoperability and common standards where possible. It also has a history in developing free-to-air platforms, with Freeview and Freesat.
The BBC sees project canvas as more than access to linear and on-demand content – we describe it as democratising access to the living room – enabling a wide range of online public and commercial services to find a wider audience.
ITV
ITV believes that the Canvas proposal will bring exciting high quality on-demand television services and other online content to the widest range of viewers, in particular the 14 million UK homes who choose not to subscribe to pay TV services. As a shareholder in Freeview and Freesat, ITV is committed to maintaining a competitive TV platform mix (satellite, cable, terrestrial) in order to give maximum choice to viewers and multiple distribution options for ITV content.
As the market leader for brand advertising, ITV strives to deliver the most innovative and creative advertising solutions. The open, IP-connected Canvas platform will allow ITV to deliver adverts that are more engaging and relevant whilst retaining the unrivalled impact of TV advertising, creating value for our clients and shareholders.
C4
Channel 4 has always been at the forefront of on-demand viewing and was the first broadcaster to make its content available on an on-demand basis when it launched 4oD in December 2006. With internet-connected TV set to be the next major technological development in broadcasting, Channel 4 believes Canvas is critical to the long-term future of subscription-free TV and wants to play a key role in driving and shaping the project
BT
BT will be contributing significant practical experience from the launch and operation of BT Vision. Project Canvas is a huge opportunity to enhance the UK TV market, fusing the power of broadcast and the internet; it also has significant potential to bring new people into the broadband market.
TalkTalk Group
Over the last five years the TalkTalk Group has invested over £1 billion to transform the UK broadband and home phone market. TalkTalk led the way in making the internet accessible with the launch of ‘free broadband’ in April 2006 and the creation of Britain’s most advanced Next Generation Network covering over 80% of the UK population. TalkTalk is pleased to support Canvas and believes it will be of great interest to its 4 million customers.
Arqiva
Arqiva is a leading provider of media services and communications infrastructure for television, radio, satellite and wireless networks, and has a long history of supporting the development of new media delivery platforms. The company transmits all terrestrial television services in the UK and is implementing the Digital Switch Over project. Arqiva is a shareholder in Freeview and operates two of the six digital terrestrial TV multiplexes. The company also owns the online TV service SeeSaw. Arqiva is delighted to be a partner in Project Canvas to support the development of free-to-air broadcasting in the UK and innovation in television services that can be delivered through new technology.
What the venture will do
- Award and promote a trade-mark to “canvas compliant” devices and internet service providers.
- Develop and maintain a consistent user experience.
- Ensure technical compliance of web services (via a third party)
- Maintain a consistent platform environment (through metadata standards, for example)
- Collate usage data
- Manage front-line customer service
What the venture will not do
- Own the underlying specification for hardware
- Aggregate or otherwise control content
- Operate any billing system
- Set device price points.
- Offer prominence for membership
How the venture will be run
Each partner will have an equal share in the venture.Canvas – Our News
Five comes back to Project Canvas
Date: Sep 24, 2010
“YouView” unveiled as the future of television
Date: Sep 16, 2010
Industry gets behind Project Canvas
Date: Sep 9, 2010
Five comes back to Project Canvas
Date: Aug 24, 2010
Project Canvas partners further engage with device manufacturers
Date: Aug 11, 2010
Canvas in the News
Jeremy Hunt: Project Canvas Is Incredibly Exciting’ | paidContent:UK
Date: Sep 10, 2010
Channel 5 rejoins Project Canvas
Date: Aug 31, 2010
Channel 5 rejoins Project Canvas
Date: Aug 26, 2010
Channel Five back in Project Canvas
Date: Aug 26, 2010
Channel 5 returns to Project Canvas fold – Business News – Independent.co.uk
Date: Aug 26, 2010
@canvasinfo
canvasinfo: Check out the new #YouView website – www.youview.com
Date: Sep 16, 2010
canvasinfo: Join us at @YVTV for all the latest on why #YouView is the future of television
Date: Sep 16, 2010
canvasinfo: No longer Project Canvas. From now on we’re #YouView
Date: Sep 16, 2010
canvasinfo: Hi @ianjamesdavies @ianwareing, we’ll be posting links at 11:30 to all the latest info or email us [email protected] with q’s
Date: Sep 16, 2010
canvasinfo: News on the future of television will be announced at 11.30am
Date: Sep 16, 2010
canvasinfo: Industry gets behind #project canvas with 40 manufacturers expressing strong support to develop Canvas devices http://tinyurl.com/348ldp4
Date: Sep 9, 2010
canvasinfo: Jeremy Hunt: #projectcanvas is ‘Incredibly Exciting’ http://cnt.to/mju > we agree, but canvas strips out the chaos via @paidcontentuk
Date: Sep 9, 2010
canvasinfo: @DocEvil666 thanks for the #ff Doc
Date: Sep 6, 2010
canvasinfo: #ChannelFive rejoins #projectcanvas. Richard Desmond says open #iptv platform will “shape the future of broadcasting” http://is.gd/eAplq
Date: Aug 24, 2010
canvasinfo: #project canvas calls out for expressions of interest from device manufacturers to bring Canvas devices to market http://tinyurl.com/2u9uet8
Date: Aug 11, 2010