Project Canvas, our response to the BBC Trust

30/07/2009

In June the BBC Trust said it had found widespread support for the delivery of internet-connected TV in the home, but that it required more information to address points made by stakeholders. On Friday 24 July 2009 the BBC Trust published this further information and released the partners to engage with industry to develop the proposals further.

We hope that the information we have made available demonstrates how important we think it is to engage directly with the industry. We’re pleased to see momentum gathering behind the proposals and are committed, subject to BBC Trust approval, to launch the platform in 2010.

We believe that there is strong and growing endorsement for the vision and strategy set out originally in February 2009 and that, if implemented quickly and effectively, a broadband-connected TV platform, open to all content and service providers, will offer real benefits to consumers, content providers, advertisers and manufacturers, as well as accelerate the growth of broadband in the UK. Below we set out the key points from the information shared with the BBC Trust.

You can formally express your views on this information to the BBC Trust by 1 September 2009.  We also are in the process of setting up a dedicated Canvas website to provide the latest information on Project Canvas. In the meantime, the full information can be found here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/consult/open_consultations/canvas.html and the key points are summarised below.

Response

These are the 10 key headline responses that the BBC submitted to the BBC Trust, addressing each area where stakeholders requested further information:

1. Our support for pay services, including specific proposals on conditional access and DRM
2. The wide range of monetisation strategies enabled by Canvas, including more direct forms of advertising, micropayments and subscription
3. Our detailed plan for industry engagement, which is supported by the DTG and is aligned with planned work with other bodies including the EBU and the  OIPF
4. Details on the proposals for a common user experience, which explains how this will enable flexibility for content and service providers, ISPs, platform operators and manufacturers, as well as how content providers’ own areas on the EPG can be commercialised
5. Specific proposals on access and business rules and how pay models will be enabled without compromising Canvas as a neutral venture
6. Canvas’ commitment to a standards-based approach for broadband-connected television devices, including support for the development of a common specification with or without a Canvas user experience
7. Our developed thinking on the Canvas venture, including remit, eligibility criteria and governance framework
8. Limits to the remit of the Canvas venture – that it will not own or aggregate content, set price points for devices or offer prominence to its members
9. The BBC’s continuing commitment to its Syndication Policy to provide BBC iPlayer beyond Canvas, including via non-Canvas branded devices developed via the Canvas hardware specification, a specific issue raised by stakeholders during the first consultation
10. Articulation of the fit between Canvas and the planned launch of Freeview HD and BBC iPlayer on Freesat

As we said when we updated you recently we are keen to have conversations about which advertising solutions and opportunities Canvas might offer so if you have any further questions please contact.Simon Orpin, ITV’s Creative Solutions Director .