ON-DEMAND AND INTERNET CONTENT ON TELEVISION

That this House notes the proposed project linking the internet with television under the project title Canvas being developed jointly between BT, the BBC and ITV and currently under consideration by the BBC Trust; welcomes the innovation reflected in the development of an open platform; recognises the value of a common standard for delivering a wealth of on-demand and internet content such as the BBC iPlayer to television sets via a broadband internet connection; further recognises the significant step that this will be for the broadcasting and broadband sectors; further notes the benefits the service will bring in providing consumers with greater choice of connected television platforms and the associated opportunities for a wide range of content providers, advertisers, network and platform operators, software companies and consumer electronics makers; further notes the potential the project has to stimulate digital creativity and increased take-up of broadband; and encourages other broadcasters and communications companies to join the proposed partnership.