It looks like BBC’s Project Canvass which will put various TV programs on internet-enabled set-top boxes is gaining grounds. Reports had it that this projects is about to get the approval of authorities.

Project Canvass which was introduced earlier this year has been receiving mixed reactions from the Internet business crowd.  Google for instance supports the project but a bit worried that BBC and its content partners might dictate any terms of content sustainability or limit internet service accessibility.

Project Canvass is geared to become a leading platform for internet services on television with partners such as BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and 5, BT and Carphone Warehouse. BBC has already spent around £1 million to build the Project Canvass platform. Total budget for Project Canvass is £6 million to be spread on a five year term in developing the technology for building the support infrastructure of the Project Canvass platform.

A company who is vehemently opposing Project Canvass is satellite broadcaster Sky. Sky claims that BBC is just paying lip service to the idea of other broadcasters. Sky is also worried that BBC will utilize public money for financing its position in the video-on-demand space.

Despite all these criticisms and oppositions, BBC is pretty much  confident that Project Canvass will become a reality pretty soon. And BBC set-top boxes containing the Project Canvass platform will become available early next year.

Via

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