Virgin Media aims to block Project Canvas

[vanman]

Virgin Media aims to block Project Canvas with Ofcom complaint

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010...in-media-ofcom

Virgin Media is aiming to shut down Project Canvas, the BBC-backed venture to bring video-on-demand to Freeview and Freesat, by lodging a complaint with Ofcom that it is an anti-competitive cartel that will crush the nascent online TV market.

Virgin Media has complained that Project Canvas has wrongly rejected what the company considers fair offers of integrating the technology into its own set-top boxes with a compromise on user interface.

[Ignitionnet]

This is one of those complaints that Virgin Media had to make on the offchance, but they know very well they are highly unlikely to get anywhere. More likely they are upset because their belated attempt at getting some control over the venture failed.

Virgin Media has complained that Project Canvas has wrongly rejected what the company considers fair offers of integrating the technology into its own set-top boxes with a compromise on user interface.

[m419]

And what if BT and TalkTalk complain too? They depend on TV on Demand, not very good for them as most of there TV content is brought to viewers by On Demand IPTV.

Orange delayed its IPTV rollout due to a number of factors, if they still want to proceed with it, this will cause problems for Orange TV plans.

And as for Sky TV, this is just another cause for concern for Sky, those who don't like paying for TV will simply take advantage of the BBC's offering.

To be honest I think project Canvas should be shut down and for the reasons outlined above when Ofcom launch a consultation, I will oppose project canvas.

If project canvas goes ahead:

BT Vision,Virgin TV and TalkTalk TV customers may see the loss of BBCi player and delayed content whilst its being shown on the Freeview service.

It makes pay-tv look less attractive, a lot of people choose BT Vision,TalkTalk TV or Virgin TV simply because they offer a wide range of Television on Demand thats one of the big differences between Cable TV and IPTV with Sky,Freesat and Freeview.

The licence fee would also likely increase if Project Canvas is ever launched as well, who do you think is going to pay for the content and management?

So no, Project Canvas is bad news for consumers pockets and for the pay-tv industry.

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by m419

And what if BT and TalkTalk complain too? They depend on TV on Demand, not very good for them as most of there TV content is brought to viewers by On Demand IPTV.

Orange delayed its IPTV rollout due to a number of factors, if they still want to proceed with it, this will cause problems for Orange TV plans.

And as for Sky TV, this is just another cause for concern for Sky, those who don't like paying for TV will simply take advantage of the BBC's offering.

To be honest I think project Canvas should be shut down and for the reasons outlined above when Ofcom launch a consultation, I will oppose project canvas.

If project canvas goes ahead:

BT Vision,Virgin TV and TalkTalk TV customers may see the loss of BBCi player and delayed content whilst its being shown on the Freeview service.

It makes pay-tv look less attractive, a lot of people choose BT Vision,TalkTalk TV or Virgin TV simply because they offer a wide range of Television on Demand thats one of the big differences between Cable TV and IPTV with Sky,Freesat and Freeview.

The licence fee would also likely increase if Project Canvas is ever launched as well, who do you think is going to pay for the content and management?

So no, Project Canvas is bad news for consumers pockets and for the pay-tv industry.

TalkTalk, BT, Arqiva, Channel 4 and ITV are the other partners.

I have my doubts about TalkTalk and BT complaining about a venture they are partnering in.

Virgin were invited to participate but refused as they didn't want to comply with the Canvas standards, they wanted to customise in ways which go against the point of standards.

I look forward to seeing your opposition statement to this in a consultation given you weren't aware of who was involved in the venture. I don't think 'Because it might hurt Virgin Media' qualifies.

[tvtimes]

I hope canvas does go ahead. This is a blatant attempt of virgin trying to stifle a genuine competitor to their ondemand service.

[Buffalo2102]

If you delve into the story a little deeper, Virgin's complaint isn't a blanket blocking of project Canvas. If the project had stuck to it's original brief of producing a manual of open technical standards, there wouldn't be a problem. However, the project now seems to be delivering a new TV platform from which VM and others are excluded. This is not just bad for VM but also for the consumer. I don't see any harm in OFCOM and OFT investigating the complaint, which is all that VM are asking for.

[paul nolan]

also the problem is Canvas getting government funds to do the same thing that Virgin Media have created of their own accord.

Its very similar to the story of Liverpool Docks getting a government grant to build a new cruise terminal, when the various companies in Southampton had invested monies from nothing to build it to the cruise hub that now is.

It is blatantly unfair for any company or group of company to get a government hand out to do what another company is already doing.

(the grant for Liverpool eventually got rescinded, by the way).