Five joins UK’s Project Canvas

UK broadcaster Five is joining UK IPTV scheme Project Canvas, leaving Channel 4 as the only public service broadcaster not signed up to the project. Dawn Airey, Five chairman and CEO, says: ?It’s vital for broadcasters and other industry stakeholders to form partnerships such as Canvas if they are to open up new commercial opportunities and thrive in the digital world.?

Channel 4 says it is potentially interested in joining the venture, although any decision is likely to rely on the outcome of its negotiations with the BBC Trust on a potential tie-up. Microsoft is also reportedly considering joining the scheme once its MSN Video web TV service has launched.

Project Canvas, which is awaiting BBC Trust approval, is already backed by the BBC, ITV and BT. It aims to offer a broadband TV service that would allow viewers to watch on-demand services such as the BBC’s iPlayer via their TVs. A decision by the BBC Trust is expected in September.