Jasmeet_87
27th February, 2009, 12:16 PM
ITV, the BBC and BT have today submitted plans to the BBC Trust for ?Project Canvas?, which the partners refer to as Freeview Mark 2.
The plan is to bring services currently just available on pay-TV to free-to-air television. As well as iPlayer, the partners are keen to use the device to bring high definition (HD) television to both Freeview and Freesat. The set-top box would cost consumers between ?100 and ?200 by the time of its launch in 2010.
The venture is expected to cost about ?24m to get up and running.
The partners, who will not be involved in the manufacture of the device, will hold talks with manufacturers and other potential partners in the coming weeks.
They are keen to get other broadcasters, such as Channel 4 and Five on board, as well as internet service providers. Sources said that talks have been held with the other broadcasters and Virgin Media, which already offers iPlayer on its paid-for service.
Commercial broadcaster ITV views the free service as a way to implement new revenue streams, such as targeted advertising.
While consumers would just have to pay a one-off fee for a set to box, they would also have to pay their internet service providers for broadband access to access the video on-demand service. The partners expect 1.6Mb per second to be a sufficient broadband speed.
The BBC said that the new service will be ?open to all?, including internet service operators, broadcasters and content providers. However, for a website to feature, it will have to agree to a number of technical guidelines.
The partners do not want the experience of sitting in front of the television to change too much and believe websites need to be adapted for the service so that they can be accessed with few clicks.
The service will cost the BBC an extra ?6m over five years on top of what it is already spending on developing Freesat.
The BBC today applied to the Trust for permission to form the joint venture partnership, that would set and promote a common standard for delivering on-demand TV and other internet content through a broadband connected device such as a set top box.
Diane Coyle, BBC Trustee, said: "The Trust has challenged the BBC Executive to come up with proposals to help bring the benefits of the BBC?s public investment to the whole PSB sector.
?This is the first of these proposals to come forward to the Trust and we will be scrutinising it to ensure the best possible outcome for licence fee payers. We are now inviting all interested parties and members of the public to tell us what they think of the proposal"
BBC Director, Future Media & Technology Erik Huggers said: "It is important to note that today's proposals are subject to approval, and we look forward to contributing to the BBC Trust?s consultation process and scrutiny of these proposals. But we are excited about what this could mean for the viewing public.
?This proposal is founded upon partnership, and comes at a time when commercial public service broadcasters are facing unprecedented challenges.
"While audience demand for high quality public service broadcasting remains high, the ability of the commercial operators to deliver is seriously threatened by a changing media landscape and the difficult economic climate. Innovation is in the BBC?s DNA, and with our funding model and great content, we?re in a unique position to innovate for the benefit of everyone.?
YouTube and iPlayer heading for Freeview mark two - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/4838022/YouTube-and-iPlayer-heading-for-Freeview-mark-two.html)
The plan is to bring services currently just available on pay-TV to free-to-air television. As well as iPlayer, the partners are keen to use the device to bring high definition (HD) television to both Freeview and Freesat. The set-top box would cost consumers between ?100 and ?200 by the time of its launch in 2010.
The venture is expected to cost about ?24m to get up and running.
The partners, who will not be involved in the manufacture of the device, will hold talks with manufacturers and other potential partners in the coming weeks.
They are keen to get other broadcasters, such as Channel 4 and Five on board, as well as internet service providers. Sources said that talks have been held with the other broadcasters and Virgin Media, which already offers iPlayer on its paid-for service.
Commercial broadcaster ITV views the free service as a way to implement new revenue streams, such as targeted advertising.
While consumers would just have to pay a one-off fee for a set to box, they would also have to pay their internet service providers for broadband access to access the video on-demand service. The partners expect 1.6Mb per second to be a sufficient broadband speed.
The BBC said that the new service will be ?open to all?, including internet service operators, broadcasters and content providers. However, for a website to feature, it will have to agree to a number of technical guidelines.
The partners do not want the experience of sitting in front of the television to change too much and believe websites need to be adapted for the service so that they can be accessed with few clicks.
The service will cost the BBC an extra ?6m over five years on top of what it is already spending on developing Freesat.
The BBC today applied to the Trust for permission to form the joint venture partnership, that would set and promote a common standard for delivering on-demand TV and other internet content through a broadband connected device such as a set top box.
Diane Coyle, BBC Trustee, said: "The Trust has challenged the BBC Executive to come up with proposals to help bring the benefits of the BBC?s public investment to the whole PSB sector.
?This is the first of these proposals to come forward to the Trust and we will be scrutinising it to ensure the best possible outcome for licence fee payers. We are now inviting all interested parties and members of the public to tell us what they think of the proposal"
BBC Director, Future Media & Technology Erik Huggers said: "It is important to note that today's proposals are subject to approval, and we look forward to contributing to the BBC Trust?s consultation process and scrutiny of these proposals. But we are excited about what this could mean for the viewing public.
?This proposal is founded upon partnership, and comes at a time when commercial public service broadcasters are facing unprecedented challenges.
"While audience demand for high quality public service broadcasting remains high, the ability of the commercial operators to deliver is seriously threatened by a changing media landscape and the difficult economic climate. Innovation is in the BBC?s DNA, and with our funding model and great content, we?re in a unique position to innovate for the benefit of everyone.?
YouTube and iPlayer heading for Freeview mark two - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/4838022/YouTube-and-iPlayer-heading-for-Freeview-mark-two.html)