Channel Five rejoins Project Canvas

written by: Gianluigi Cuccureddu

Details

Published on Tuesday, 24 August 2010 13:01

Several sources have reported that Channel 5 will rejoin Project Canvas, a reversal of the decision by Northern & Shell chairman Richard Desmond, new owner of Channel Five after it was sold by RTL.

Project Canvas is the working title for an attempt to create an open, internet-connected television platform built on common standards, by the United Kingdom's terrestrial broadcasters BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5, ITV plc and communications companies Arqiva, BT and TalkTalk.

Desmond says:

"Project Canvas is set to shape the future of broadcasting and open up new and exciting possibilities for viewers.This is important to the future of Channel 5 and having an open internet-connected TV platform fits closely with our plans to bring brilliant new content and interactive services to viewers. We're delighted to renew Channel 5's commitment to supporting Project Canvas following a review of our digital strategy."

and

“Project Canvas is set to shape the future of broadcasting and open up new and exciting possibilities for viewers. This is important to the future of Channel Five and having an open internet-connected TV platform fits closely with our plans to bring brilliant new content and interactive services to viewers”.

Project Canvas director Richard Halton adds the following comment:

"Channel Five has already made a major contribution to Project Canvas and we're delighted to have them back on board. This is great recognition of how important Canvas is to the future of television."