Canvas partners respond to Sky criticism

Project Canvas partners BBC, ITV, BT and Five have defended their plans for the IPTV joint venture by stressing that it will be an "open platform for the next-generation of internet-connected TV devices".

Yesterday, Sky published its second formal submission on Canvas to the BBC Trust, in which it criticised the corporation for using public money to distort competition in the nascent market for broadband-enabled set top boxes.

Writing on the BBC Internet Blog, director of Canvas Richard Halton said that the proposed IPTV offering would not be a "BBC platform". Instead, he explained that the service would be open for all content owners, internet service providers and device manufacturers to get involved.

Halton said that the Digital TV Group is currently developing a standard for web-connected TVs, and so the BBC wants Canvas to be "compliant" with that, rather than influence it.

Sky expressed concern that the majority involvement of public service broadcasters in Canvas would create a bias for their content on the platform to the detriment of others.

However, Halton welcomed any service providers, including Sky, to take part in Canvas as long as their "ambitions for a free-to-air platform and open competition match ours".

Despite its subscription-free model, Halton explained that Canvas would support a "range of monetisation options", meaning that Sky could increase the reach of its Sky Player service by using the platform.

"Canvas is in addition to, not instead of, the syndication ambitions of all of the existing partners. Making content widely available is fundamental to the economics of free-to-air content providers and Canvas adds to the range of options available," he said.

"As a platform, it is intended to reduce the barriers to accessing the television set that some content providers already experience."

Halton also indicated that Canvas will fall in line with the BBC's Royal Charter remit to always effectively use the licence fee to maintain and expand public service broadcasting.

"Public service or not, we can all contribute to supporting a Digital Britain: be it in increasing the availability of online services such as NHS Direct, helping to drive broadband uptake by delivering service innovation or by investing to ensure that our subscription-free TV platforms continue to evolve," he concluded.

"The BBC thinks that Canvas is central to delivering these aims and is keen to work with partners who believe the same."

The Trust is expected to issue its final conclusion on the BBC's involvement in Canvas this autumn.