A new on broadband Freeview service is being planned by the BBC, ITV and BT. The service will use a new type of Freeview set-top box, and combine it with a broadband connection. This means that we will be able to play on demand catch-up TV over broadband, but watch it on our TVs. The service is currently going under the name of Project Canvas.
This new broadband Freeview service will also launch on Freesat (Freesat is a satellite TV service which requires a one off cost for a satellite dish and installation, but then offers free-to-air satellite TV channels with no ongoing subscription cost).
Unfortunately this broadband TV service will not be available until January 2010 – so just 13 months to wait!
But it does sound worth waiting for. Project Canvas will offer:
• TV, radio and high-definition services
• on-demand catch-up TV
• programmes from the extensive BBC and ITV TV archives
• films
• interactive TV services
This new Freeview broadband service will be kept separate from the BT TV and broadband offering BT Vision.
Find out about the current Freeview service here.
On-demand TV has been brought about by the revolution in broadband and digital TV services and is now available to most people in the UK.
Most of the major broadcasters offer on-demand services, which allow the viewer to watch TV programmes, films and music videos whenever it is convenient for them - either on the internet or over a digital cable or satellite TV service.
The BBC, ITV and Channel 4 now all offer on-demand TV services.
• The BBC has iPlayer, which allows internet users to watch programmes shown within the last 30 days on a number of the BBC’s channels whenever they feel like it, on the internet.
• ITV has its own on demand service, with sport taking centre stage as the jewel of its on-demand crown.
• Channel 4 now has two on-demand services available. On its website you can watch programmes shown within the last 30 days - the system is very similar to BBC’s iPlayer. Channel 4 also has 4OD, a software based on-demand service which can be used to watch many of the programmes from Channel 4, either by streaming them or downloading them for later, which gives much higher playback quality. You can also purchase older shows and even rent movies over 4OD, but it does require that you have a compatible PC and internet connection.
• On both Sky and Virgin Media digital satellite and cable services there are on-demand programming options too.
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