As plans go ahead to launch the multi channel backed online TV platform Project Canvas, it seems that the cable TV provider Virgin Media is still considering filing a complaint against the scheme with the regulator Ofcom.

Virgin Media believes that Project Canvas will be anti competitive.

This will form the basis of the firm’s argument against the scheme, which recently was given the green light by the BBC Trust.

Project Canvas plans to take the current free to view digital TV services, Freeview and Freesat, to a wider audience online.

This is made possible through the success of the iPlayer, by improved broadband connection speeds and the introduction of connected TVs.

It would seem that the viewer will be getting more choice in how they watch TV, but will this platform damage competition?

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Virgin Media may appeal against Project Canvas

Just as things are beginning to look up for the multi-channel online TV partnership, Project Canvas has lost one its main partners.

The terrestrial channel, Five, has pulled out from the project, leaving a big hole to fill.

For Five this must have been inevitable, as the channel lost almost £40 million last year and has been put up for sale by owner RTL.

This sale puts pressure on Five which, as partner in Project Canvas, would have to find an equal share of the development costs.

These are estimated at around £116 million for the first four years and this is something that Five is unable to commit to, at the moment.

The sale of Five will become clearer by the 19th July when RTL will announce the two main contenders to buy the channel.

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Project Canvas loses Five

Just because Project Canvas will be a cutting edge online TV platform, this does not mean that it is going to become a free for all, as the management of the service has announced plans to use the Marlin DRM solution to protect its content.

The Marlin DRM system was developed by Intertrust, Panasonic, Phillips, Samsung and Sony, but it will be made available to all the members of the alliance, no matter if the content provided is considered to be premium or for subscription purposes.

The use of digital rights management may seem a little strange on a platform that is considered to be an open platform, but at the end of the day, the broadcasters want to prevent their content from being distributed around the world free of charge.

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Project Canvas content protection plans

At the moment Project Canvas is still a work in progress.

The basics are already known and the concept is to renew the current free-to-view digital television service in a form that can be viewed online.

The details of this service will be launched by the end of the month, but the best way of looking at it is to compare it with the BBC iPlayer; when this was launched who could have predicted the following that this service would have.

For Project Canvas the market is already there, waiting for the next evolution in digital television and it would seem that this could be that next step that sees catch-up TV enter the mainstream, allowing viewers to experience a new way of watching television.

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The revolution that is Project Canvas

As the multi-channel internet-based TV service known as Project Canvas begins to make launch plans, already there is speculation on how this is going to work for the consumer.

It seems that TalkTalk has the answer and it comes in the form of a bundled deal.

Consumers taking out a broadband and phone service bundle will be able to get a Project Canvas set top box free of charge.

However, if the consumer is happy with their ISP and phone service provider then the equipment could carry a price tag of around £200.

With the BBC, BT, Arqiva, TalkTalk, Channel Four, ITV and Five being partners in the project, it would appear that there is plenty of scope for all sorts of offers designed to encourage the consumer to sign up to Project Canvas.

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Project Canvas will be free