Project Canvas will combine Freeview and Freesat with broadband capability in a next-generation set-top box, to combine TV, radio and high-definition services with on-demand catch-up and archive programming provided by the BBC's iPlayer and ITV Player, as well as web content.
Yesterday (12 May), BSkyB criticised the BBC Trust's decision not to conduct a full market impact review of Project Canvas. It said Project Canvas was "likely to qualify" for an investigation by the Office of Fair Trading as a "relevant merger situation".
It has also called on the BBC Trust to assess the likely risk of the project falling foul of European Union state aid rules.
Today, however, the backers of Project Canvas said its services should come to fruition to ensure that not just those consumers who take pay-TV can access VoD in the future.
In a statement the backers said: "The enormous consumer benefits that internet-powered TV can bring should not be restricted to paying customers.
"An open, standards-based platform, that enables a far greater range of content providers to enter the market, will be good for content owners and good for consumers - who gain a subscription-free alternative."
The statement continued: "Freeview and Freesat transformed digital TV, and showed what standards-based platforms can do for audiences and the industry. Canvas has the potential to do the same for the next generation of TV, bringing content on-demand from a huge range of providers into the living room, all for a one-off fee. Access to the Canvas platform would be open to any third-party, including Sky."
Separately, the BBC Trust responded to BSkyB's criticism of its decision not to conduct a full market impact review of Project Canvas.
A Trust spokesman said: "In assessing the BBC Executive's application to join the Project Canvas joint venture, the Trust has followed the processes set out in the BBC's Charter and Agreement. The Trust's rigorous assessment will include consideration of both the public value and market impact of the proposal. The Trust has already concluded a seven-week period of public consultation and a second period of public consultation is also planned."
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