麻豆社

The proposal, also known as Project Canvas, would allow viewers to watch on-demand services, such as the 麻豆社 iPlayer and other internet content, via television sets.

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

The 麻豆社 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 麻豆社 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, 麻豆社 Trustee, said:

"The Trust has challenged the 麻豆社 Executive to come up with proposals to help bring the benefits of the 麻豆社'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"

The proposal

Full details of the proposal are contained in the Trust's consultation document which has been published today. Outline details are below.

Television

Devices meeting the agreed standards would continue to enable delivery of the full range of digital 麻豆社 and other services without a monthly subscription either via the aerial (like Freeview) or a satellite dish (like Freesat).

The ambition is that devices meeting the standard would be 鈥楬D-ready' so subscription free HD services (like the 麻豆社 HD channel) would be available to those who had an HD television.

It is expected that devices will be available including some form of local storage, such as a personal video recorder (PVR).

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 麻豆社 iPlayer), viewers would need to have a broadband connection from their internet service provider. These devices could enable on-demand services from the 麻豆社 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.

Electronic programme guide

The standard would include an electronic programme guide (EPG) that viewers would use to move between scheduled and on-demand programming.

Costs to consumers and the 麻豆社

The 麻豆社 Executive has estimated that initial devices (which would be set-top boxes) would cost consumers in the range of 拢100-200 at launch in 2010. In order to access on-demand services, users would also have to pay their internet service providers for broadband access.

The 麻豆社 Executive estimate that its incremental contribution to the cost of the venture would be around 拢6m over the next five years. The 麻豆社 Executive's proposal, subject to existing approvals and regulatory constraints, is for the venture to include the current Freesat operation. The total cost including Freesat over this five year period is around 拢16.6m on Canvas.

Timescale

If the Trust decided to approve the proposal the 麻豆社 Executive would expect equipment, subject to manufacturing lead times, to be available in the shops in 2010.

Next steps

The Trust will today begin its assessment process of the 麻豆社 Executive's proposal. The assessment process for 鈥榥on-services' is set out in the Charter and Agreement for when the Trust is considering activities, such as the development of new platforms, which do not have the characteristics of a new public service. For example following a non-service assessment process the Trust has previously given approval, with conditions, to the Freesat joint-venture. The assessment process will consider:

• the public value created by the proposal
• value for money
• the interests and perspective of the licence fee payer
• market impact
• risk (financial, operational, reputational)
• compliance with the law and with 麻豆社 and Trust policies

The Trust is now inviting consultation responses on the proposal with particular emphasis on the public value and market impact created. The Trust will publish its emerging conclusions in June and will then be open for a further period of consultation before publishing a final decision in July. A full timetable is below. Consultation responses can be submitted at: www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/

Notes to editors

• This proposition forms part of the 麻豆社's partnership proposals. The Trust has previously stated that these plans are subject to its formal regulatory processes.
• The following documents have been published today on the Trust website:
• Trust consultation document and description of the proposal 鈥損lease be aware that this supersedes any information in the 麻豆社 Executive application .
• 麻豆社 Executive application document.
• Supporting documentation
• The Trust's protocol for the way in which it considers non-service activity can be found at:

Timetable:

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