BBC plans open standard Internet TV platform codenamed 'Canvas'

October 16, 2008 - The BBC is in preparations to create an open industry standard Internet TV platform codenamed 'Canvas', intended to enable content providers to easily launch Web TV services, according to Erik Huggers, the corporation's Director of Future Media & Technology, speaking at industry event Mipcom.

Mr. Huggers stated that the service would potentially be available via a set-top box and enable "any service to build applications onto the platform", adding that creating an open industry standard would "make sure we don't get into the situation 'death by a thousand cuts'."  He also said that the service is yet to be approved by the BBC Trust, but would be an opportunity for the iPlayer to extend its functionality.  Mr. Huggers estimates that, if approved, Canvas is at least 12 to 18 months away.

The executive also indicated that the BBC is looking to develop cross-platform widgets where users could be on the BBC Weather site for example and take content across with them as they browse the Web: "For example, you may take a traffic widget and move it across onto the phone. So ultimately, taking the content with you wherever you want to go."

Finally, Mr. Huggers confirmed reports during the event that the BBC is looking into launching a children's version of the iPlayer, which will "potentially" launch by the end of this year.