After a quiet period, Project Canvas may be available to service providers as early as September and it is looking to target around 7 million viewers in the UK. The cutting edge internet tv project which is still awaiting final approval from the BBC Trust is a joint venture between the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five, Arqiva, TalkTalk and BT.

Latest developments come after the OFT decided not to investigate complaints by rival broadcasters. The news that the BBC are targeting 7 million viewers comes from The Inquirer, ITV controller of strategy Simon Pitts said that the project has identified its core market to be internet users who want subscription-free television. “We already have a target market. Freeview and Freesat upgraders who already predominantly have broadband [but] don’t want to pay for television. Between six and seven million homes fall into that category at the moment,” said Pitts. “For Canvas to be successful it needs to be as open a platform as possible. Open in every sense – to ISPs, content providers and manufacturers.”

Pitts also said that the release date depends on a timetable drawn up where Project Canvas requires regulatory approval from the BBC Trust by the end of June, partners will be found in July, and technical specifications for the scheme are to be shared in August. The project partners have already published a range of technical specifications for Canvas on the Digital Television Group’s website for use by industry stakeholders.

Last week, it emerged that the Canvas partners have registered the branding YouView, which is believed to be a hybrid of YouTube and Freeview, for the forthcoming platform. The project, which was recently cleared from constituting a qualifying merger by the Office Of Fair Trading, is currently awaiting final approval from the Trust.

Bob Hannent, chief technologist at set top box manufacturer Humax, said that the Canvas platform will seamlessly blend TV and internet services. “This is what I love about Canvas. This is why I think Canvas separates itself from other hybrid architectures that are about,” he said.

Project Canvas will seamlessly blend the internet and tv together along with social networking features, and promises to be well worth waiting for.

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3. Project Canvas Given The Go Ahead By The OFT
4. Project Canvas Online TV Could Be Approved This Week
5. Channel 4 Jump Aboard Project Canvas