No investigation into Project Canvas

Ofcom announced today that it will not open an investigation into ‘Project Canvas’.

Project Canvas is a partnership between the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five, BT, TalkTalk and Arqiva which will offer digital terrestrial channels and internet-delivered TV services via a set-top box connected to viewers’ TV sets.

It also involves creating technical standards which can be used by participating services to deliver content via a single set-top box using a branded user interface which will be known as YouView.

Virgin Media and IP Vision submitted complaints to Ofcom that alleged potential breaches of the Competition Act 1998. Ofcom also received submissions from 11 other parties, including BSky B.

But at the current stage of YouView’s development, Ofcom believes it would be premature to open an investigation because:

• IPTV is still an emerging sector, and the impact of YouView on the market will not be known with any confidence for some time;
  
• It is likely that YouView will bring benefits to viewers and consumers. Any potential harm to competition would need to be offset against these benefits; and
  
• Whether or not YouView and its partners will harm competition in the ways alleged will depend upon how this emerging market develops and how the YouView partners act, particularly in relation to issuing technical standards and providing access to content.

The full press release can be found here: http://media.ofcom.org.uk/2010/10/19/
no-investigation-into-project-canvas/

Tweet