Sky voices disquiet over BBC Trust probe into Project Canvas

LONDON - BSkyB has written to the BBC Trust to raise concerns over its investigation into Project Canvas, the planned VoD service on Freeview.

Concerned: BSkyB is unhappy about the BBC Trust's probe into Project Canvas
Concerned: BSkyB is unhappy about the BBC Trust's probe into Project Canvas

The Trust, which has been probing Canvas since February, is examining its potential public value and market impact.

Last month, the Trust, which has yet to approve the project backed by the BBC, ITV, Five and BT, set out a regulatory timetable for a possible launch in 2010.

However, BSkyB said it had "serious concerns" over the Trust's handling of the probe. Graham McWilliam, Sky's group director of corporate affairs, said: "We've written to the Trust to express our continuing serious concerns about the process it has adopted in relation to the assessment of Project Canvas.

"The combination of a wholly unrealistic timeframe for responses, along with a failure to seek an independent and comprehensive market impact assessment from Ofcom, demonstrates disregard for the principles of good regulation.

McWilliams added: "If the Trust continues to pursue its current course of action, it will only serve to undermine further industry confidence in its ability and inclination to act as a genuinely independent regulator of the BBC."

The backers of Project Canvas, which aims to launch video-on-demand services on Freeview and Freesat, are confident of a start-up in the first half of next year, and anticipate it will, ultimately, be taken by several million TV homes.

In June, the BBC Trust announced a delay in its formal review of Project Canvas and asked the BBC to provide more detailed information on its plans for the venture. It initially planned to deliver a formal assessment by 24 July, but that request for more information meant the date has now been pushed back.

The Trust declined to give a new timetable, although, according to sources, it is expected to deliver its formal decision no later than early autumn, meaning Project Canvas should still launch next year. Some observers, however, warn that the Trust's new deliberations could push back the launch well into 2010 or even 2011.

Last month, Five confirmed it was joining Project Canvas.

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