OFT Permits New Set Box Top Feature

by Katy Murcutt - Paralegal

29 June 2010, filed under Consumer

According to the BBCs governing body, the BBC has been given the go-ahead to offer on-demand video to televisions using the internet. Called Project Canvas, the BBC Trust has approved a collaboration between each of the UKs key broadcasting bodies and internet service providers, including BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five, BT and Talk Talk.

The BBC Trust oversees all of the BBCs actions and has approved Project Canvas subject to strict conditions. The majority of programmes are to be made available for free to viewers with all technical data being published within 3 weeks, as well as accessibility and usability being issued fairly and reasonably.

The Office of Fair Trader Trading has already given the project a green light. Project Canvas is a simplified version of Project Kangaroo, which was a more comprehensive service. Project Kangaroo was rejected by the Competition Commission last year as it would have required use of specific broadcasters content, rendering it anti-competitive.

The Competition Commission classed Project Kangaroo as anti-competitive because such a comprehensive system would have created an effective retail market whereby broadcasters content would be readily available, which would directly weaken the market for saleable content.

It is intended that Project Canvas will bring better value for money for TV licence payers as those with a broadband connection will be able to access a range of free content, such as BBC iPlayer.

The total cost of the project is being tightly monitored to ensure the expense of the project does not triumph the purpose of free TV.

Project Canvas will be available from a special set-top box like those supplied by Virgin and BSkyB. The BBC Trust has said that is anticipating access to the internet and TV shows should be free.

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