Virgin Media and Sky have been helping shape specs related to Project Canvas, though each opposes it and Virgin Media has complained Project Canvas is anti competitive.

The Digital Television Group, whose industry members have been reviewing the Project Canvas consortium’s proposed specification with its own, wider proposed standard.

A Digital Television Group spokesperson has said:

“Phase A of the DTG’s Connected TV specification was circulated to DTG members at the end of July.”

“To enable the development of the specification, Canvas, Sky, Virgin Media and Lovefilm have provided their high-level technical requirements.”

“The Connected TV specification, which provides the core technical specification for hybrid broadcast/broadband devices that service providers such as Sky, Virgin Media and Canvas can build their trademarks requirements on to support their services, is only available to DTG members and will be published in December as part of D-Book 7.”

We have no idea what specifications Virgin and Sky have put into the process, it is unknown whether they have been accepted or rejected, because the specification is being developed privately within the DTG.

Each is basically trying to argue some preferred conditions in to the spec during discussion stage, on the assumption that Project Canvas – or, rather, standardised connected TV more generally – will go ahead regardless.

Virgin Media says: “This is very much a case of contributing to the D-Book 7 specifications, not Project Canvas. They are not the same.” Indeed, the general D-Book 7 specification, whilst similar to Project Canvas, may yet prove to be a useful alternative for the pay-TV operators.

Project Canvas has submitted 10 specifications documents to the DTG, which has circulated each to members of its Connected TV working groups for peer review and feedback, the DTG says.

Sky, which already has carriage on hybrid IPTV/Freeview boxes, and Virgin Media, which has contracted TiVo to build it a box with similar features, have been vocal throughout the Project Canvas process, submitting concerns to the BBC Trust’s consultation on the BBC’s proposal.

Sky says license payer money should not be on the project, but it is angling for technology requirements that would let it launch on such a service in the same way it has on other boxes recently.

Virgin Media has submitted a complaint to Ofcom earlier this month, alleging Project Canvas will “diminish existing competition”. Ofcom, together with the OFT, will decide whether to investigate.

Virgin Media has said: “Submitting our requirements to an open set of standards that can be used by any manufacturer is not contrary to asking Ofcom to investigate a different, closed set of standards with a mandated interface. On that point, we haven’t said we wanted Canvas prohibited. We want proper scrutiny.”

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4. Director Of Project Canvas Predicts Internet TV Will Grow 70%
5. Project Canvas TV on Demand Project Could Be Delayed Until 2011