Plans to roll out UK-based IPTV venture Project Canvas have been dealt a further blow after Six TV became the third company to request an official competition inquiry.
Six TV is calling on UK communications regulator Ofcom to review the proposed service,…
Plans to roll out UK-based IPTV venture Project Canvas have been dealt a further blow after Six TV became the third company to request an official competition inquiry.
Six TV is calling on UK communications regulator Ofcom to review the proposed service, which aims to offer an open internet-connected TV platform, arguing it poses a serious risk to regional broadcasting.
In its submission to the regulator, Six TV stated that Project Canvas will be “catastrophic for small-scale services seeking to promote democratic participation and civil society”, claiming the JV partners, which include UK telcos BT and TalkTalk, ride rough-shod over the interests of local communities.
Daniel Cass, Six TV’s CEO, said: “Some parties appear to present the Project Canvas platform as the answer to the challenges faced by new local TV services. Far from a panacea, we regard Project Canvas as a poison pill which will have a negative effect on opportunities for important new television services to enter the market.
“We are calling upon Ofcom to launch a full investigation of the actions of the joint venture partners as we do not believe local TV will be viable in the UK otherwise.”
IPVision, the London-based DTT/IPTV over-the-top provider, and UK broadband and cable operator Virgin Media have also made similar calls to Ofcom.
It is understood that Ofcom expects to decide whether to launch a competition inquiry into Project Canvas by November this year.
A spokesperson for Ofcom confirmed: “Six TV have submitted a complaint regarding Project Canvas. We are reviewing this complaint and will assess what action is appropriate.
“In the meantime, we are continuing to assess whether to open an investigation into Project Canvas, following the complaints received from Virgin Media and IP Vision.”
