BBC Trust launches public consultation on proposal for internet protocol television (Project Canvas).

BBC Trust launches public consultation on proposal for internet protocol television (Project Canvas).

26 February 2009

The BBC Trust today launched a public consultation on the BBC Executive’s proposal to develop a joint venture partnership to help enable the delivery of internet protocol television (IPTV). The proposal, also known as Project Canvas, would allow viewers to watch on-demand services, such as the BBC iPlayer and other internet content, via television sets.

This proposal forms part of the partnership plans that have been developed by the BBC Executive, in response to a challenge from the Trust, to help bring the benefits of the BBC's public investment to the whole public service broadcasting sector.

The BBC Executive has applied to the Trust for permission to form a joint venture partnership, that would set and promote a common standard for delivering on-demand TV and other internet content through a broadband connected device such as a set top box. The BBC would not be involved in the manufacture or distribution of equipment.

The Trust will decide whether or not to approve the proposals, following a rigorous scrutiny process, which will include two periods of public consultation and will report in the summer.

Diane Coyle, BBC Trustee, said:

"The Trust has challenged the BBC Executive to come up with proposals to help bring the benefits of the BBC’s public investment to the whole PSB sector. This is the first of these proposals to come forward to the Trust and we will be scrutinising it to ensure the best possible outcome for licence fee payers. We are now inviting all interested parties and members of the public to tell us what they think of the proposal"

Internet and on-demand services

Devices meeting the standards would have an internet connection. In order to access the internet and on-demand services (such as the BBC iPlayer), viewers would need to have a broadband connection from their internet service provider. These devices could enable on-demand services from the BBC and other public service broadcasters, as well as some internet content, which may include video clips or information from public service bodies such as DirectGov and the NHS.

Timetable:

Date	Event
26 February 2009	Start of first consultation
17 April 2009	Close of first consultation
On or before 8 June 2009	Trust publishes emerging conclusions and second consultation period begins
22 June 2009	Second consultation period closes
On or before 24 July 2009	Trust publishes final decision

Full story at;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/news/press_releases/2009/project_canvas.html

BBC TRUST REFUSES LOCAL VIDEO SERVICE.

BBC TRUST REFUSES LOCAL VIDEO SERVICE.

BBC Local Video

The BBC Trust has refused permission for the broadcaster to a launch a local video service.

It said local video would not improve services for the public enough to justify either the investment of licence fee funds or the negative impact on commercial media.

The BBC had proposed launching an enhanced version of the ‘BBC Local’ websites to be available on any internet-enabled device.

Public Value Test

The BBC Trust carried out a Public Value Test (PVT) into the plans which looked at both the value to the public of the proposed service and its impact on the wider market.

As part of that process Ofcom undertook a Market Impact Assessment (MIA).

We concluded that the planned service would have a ‘significant negative impact’ on commercial providers who had plans in this area.

Newspapers

It revealed that if the BBC Local Video services were launched then annual revenues from existing commercial providers would fall by up to 4%.

More significantly, the launch of BBC Local Video services would have significant negative impact on future innovation in online local news, sports, and weather services by the commercial sector, particularly newspapers.

This is an Ofcom report.

TECHNISAT TO MANUFACTURE FREESAT PRODUCTS IN 2009.

TECHNISAT TO MANUFACTURE FREESAT PRODUCTS IN 2009.

Freesat today announced a partnership with German consumer electronics company TechniSat to produce HD digital boxes in 2009.

German based TechniSat Digital Group, which has recently opened a dedicated UK office, is a leading consumer electronics organisation with a strong history of producing high quality set top Boxes, PVRs, and IDTVs.

Emma Scott, Freesat’s MD comments “The new HD digital boxes by TechniSat will provide a quality option for consumers to enjoy the choice and range of channels that are available on Freesat.”

Martin Cole, TechniSat Digital UK’s MD adds “We are extremely pleased to be working with Freesat. This provides us the ideal opportunity to introduce the high-quality TechniSat brand and Freesat HD receiver into the UK market.”

Freesat is also in talks with a range of other manufacturers regarding producing Freesat products and will continue to announce further partners in 2009.

For more information on Freesat, please visit www.freesat.co.uk


For more information on TechniSat, please visit www.technisat.co.uk or www.technisat.com
************

This is an official freesat press release.

KANGAROO VIDEO ON DEMAND STOPPED.

KANGAROO VIDEO ON DEMAND STOPPED.

The Kangaroo project has been well and truly floored by The Competition Commission as it has been suggested that the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 would be better if they were in competition rather than friends. Either way the viewer will lose out putting this clever technology on the back burner, but as we all know the Competition Commission are working in our best interests so hopefully the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 will be able to come up with an acceptable solution.
My personal problem with the whole idea of the Kangaroo project was the idea of the BBC selling back to me archived material of which I have already paid for with my licence fee - meaning! as a member of the great British public paying again for something which I have already paid for. If the archive shows were being sold to overseas countries I would agree. Otherwise project Kangaroo is a perfect way for viewers to select and choose when they want to view their own choice.
The story below comes from the BBC news;

Broadcasters' Kangaroo tied down.

A plan by the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 to launch an on-demand video service has been blocked because it posed "too much of a threat to competition".

The Competition Commission said Project Kangaroo "has to be stopped" and that viewers would benefit if the three were "close competitors" rather than allies.

Kangaroo proposed to sell current shows from C4 and ITV and archived BBC shows.

The broadcasters said in a joint statement "the real losers from this decision are British consumers".

HUMAX FOXSAT HDR+ PVR FOR SALE AND FOR NEW ORDERS EXCLUSIVE.

HUMAX FOXSAT HDR+ PVR MAPLINS ONLINE ORDERS EXCLUSIVE.



FOXSAT HDR PVR TAKING ORDERS FOR SALE AT MAPLINS ELECTRONICS.

The Foxsat HDR or sometimes known as the Foxsat HDR+ PVR has been selling like hotcakes on these British shores and as such it has become one of the most sought after electronic must haves in the UK. Foxsat HDR + PVR is made by Humax and most sat guys out there know that Humax are past masters of creating product demand like no other satellite company can so it's little wonder this little gem is so hard to find and purchase.

But the BBC Freesat Blog is at hand we have found out that Maplins are taking orders for these FOXSAT HDR'S right now by clicking the link at the bottom of this page and entering the sear box at the top of that page type "freesat" and enter to be taking you right to the exclusive offer of an Foxsat HDR+ PVR.

This Foxsat HDR is so hard top find that it's our advice to buy it while you can before there is another hold up in supply.

For more details on this HDR PVR then please visit this site for more info and test reviews?

Is it news to you? Then you read it here first!

FREESAT TV BRINGS HIGH-DEFINITION 6 NATIONS RUGBY TO THE UK FOR FREE.

FREESAT TV BRINGS HIGH-DEFINITION 6 NATIONS RUGBY TO THE UK FOR FREE.

GET A FREESAT HD BOX IN TIME FOR THE TOURNAMENT.

British rugby fans won’t need an expensive TV subscription to catch all of this year’s 2009 RBS 6 Nations home matches featuring England, Wales and Scotland, live and in high-definition (HD). All the home matches will be in glorious HD and for free with Freesat, the free-to-air satellite TV service.

Kicking off on Saturday 7 February, the RBS 6 Nations tournament sees top teams from across Europe battle for the coveted silverware. With the BBC HD channel on Freesat, viewers can catch every scrum, kick and maul of the home matches in vivid HD, offering pictures five times the quality of standard definition (SD).

Freesat offers over 140 other TV and radio channels, including HD programming from both the BBC and ITV, all for as little as £97 for an HD digital box.

The BBC HD channel (Freesat channel 108) will be showing all of the home matches including;

• Sat 07/02 England vs. Italy

• Sun 08/02 Scotland vs. Wales

• Sat 14/02 Wales vs. England

• Sat 28/02 Scotland vs. Italy

• Sat 14/03 Scotland vs. Ireland

· Sun 15/03 England vs. France

· Sat 21/03 England vs. Scotland followed by Wales vs. Ireland.

Official Freesat TV Press Release.

SKY+ TV OFFERS HD AT LOWEST EVER UK PRICE.

SKY+ TV OFFERS HD AT LOWEST EVER UK PRICE.

With viewer choice being our watch-word we feel that the Sky package today
comes close to what must be their best offer yet.
For new customers from today Sky+HD which has over 30 HD channels is now available at £49 plus free set up.
The banner on the right holds this offer.

FREESAT ADDS MORE CHANNELS 27th JANUARY 2009.

FREESAT ADDS MORE CHANNELS 27th JANUARY 2009.

FREESAT ADDS FINANCIAL NEWS LEADER BLOOMBERG TV TO ITS PLATFORM

CLUBLAND TV AND WEDDING TV+1 ALSO TO LAUNCH ON 27 JAN

Freesat, the free-to-air digital satellite TV service today announced the launch of the BLOOMBERG TELEVISION® network, the leading financial news and information station, on channel 208.

The BLOOMBERG TELEVISION® network provides news and commentary aimed at the business and financial professional. The BLOOMBERG TELEVISION® network operates twenty-four hours a day and reaches more than 200 million homes worldwide via 11 networks, in seven languages.

In addition to the BLOOMBERG TELEVISION® network, two other channels, dance music channel Clubland TV (channel 514) and the time-delayed wedding channel Wedding TV+1 (channel 403), will launch at the same time.

The BLOOMBERG TELEVISION® network, Clubland TV and Wedding TV+1 will automatically be added via viewers’ Freesat digital boxes or integrated TVs, so viewers will not need to take any action to access the channel.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE.

FREESAT - GOODMANS GFSAT 100SD. 17th January 2009.

FREESAT - GOODMANS GFSAT 100SD. 17th January 2009.

FREESAT - GOODMANS GFSAT 100SD was being fitted at a good friends house yesterday.

I had told them the freesat box was easy to fit and easy on the pocket. When I went there the dish was looking very bedraggled and weather beaten. Paint was peeling off in lumps - bad enough for me to see it from the ground.
I'll point out at this point my ladder climbing days are over so my thoughts must have been showing on my expression as my friend said " thought this was the bees knees". I asked when the ancient Sky dish had last been used and he told me about ten years ago with the previous owner.
I plugged in the freesat box using a simple coax length of about two metres with an f-connector on each end from the back of the Goodmans to the wall plate - silence and no signal returned a request from the Goodmans to attempt a search - after the search it requested the usual postal code.
I entered the postal code and found that it was getting a 56% signal.
I asked the box to do it's thing and it grabbed every channel - that is when I found out the signal level to the freesat box is not anywhere near the same. The BBC channels made no show including the CBB's channel I was after especially, nor the CITV channel I assured them they would get with a tin lid.
Channels that came through strong were a surprise; Simply Movies - clear as a bell, Channel 5 - clear as a bell, Russian News - clear as a bell, British Parliament - clear as a bell, all types of 4 - clear as a bell. All in all the signal strength for a new service was very disappointing - tweaked the signal strength to just under 65% and still not a complete service - the Goodmans box brand new and tested before taking it to my friends place.
My next step is to return and instruct my friend to remove and by-pass the wall plate to see if this will liven up the signal enough to pick up the BBC channels before I suggest a new dish and LNB.
This does not really auger well for those in fringe areas, and it answers a lot of questions we have been getting about lack of signals in far away places.
Is it news to you ? then you read it here first!

FREESAT APPOINTS BAL SAMRA TO THE BOARD.

FREESAT APPOINTS BAL SAMRA TO THE BOARD.

Freesat has today announced that Bal Samra, Director of BBC Vision Operations and Rights is to join the board of the subscription free satellite TV service, as of 28^th January 2009. Bal will replace Richard Waghorn, BBC Controller of Distribution, who is leaving the BBC.

Bal is responsible for Rights and Business Affairs across the BBC, leading the development, financing and implementation of the BBC’s Rights and Business Affairs strategy and overseeing the relationship with external stakeholders and partners.

Bal also leads Vision Operations within BBC Vision. BBC Vision is responsible for the commissioning, scheduling and production of all video-related content for the BBC’s UK public services. Vision Operations encompasses Commercial and Business Development, Business Planning and Analysis, Commissioning Operations, Finance, and Production Operations. Together, around 1,000 staff work in Vision Operations and Rights

Bal joined the BBC in corporate finance in 1990. During his time at the BBC highlights included spearheading the business aspects of a number of BBC service launches, including launching Radio 5 Live, BBC News 24 (now the BBC News channel) and BBC News Online. Prior to joining the BBC, Bal worked in commercial and finance roles at Unilever, GEC and Ford Motor Company .

As a BBC representative on the Board of Freesat, Bal will play a key role in helping to shape Freesat’s strategy, bringing his extensive knowledge of the TV broadcasting industry and his strong commercial acumen to the fore.

Commenting on the new appointment of Bal Samra to the board, Emma Scott, Freesat’s MD said; “Bal’s background and experience will be invaluable to Freesat as we enter 2009 and an exciting period for the business. I look forward to working with Bal and the Freesat Board to continue to shape our strategy in Freesat’s second year after a highly successful launch year.”

Official press release, 14th January 2009.