BBC to create open standard IPTV platform

The BBC is looking to create an open industry standard IPTV platform to enable content providers to easily launch Internet TV services.

The service, codenamed Canvas, would potentially be available through a set-top box, and enable any service to build applications onto the platform.

Although yet to be approved by the BBC Trust, it would be an opportunity for the iPlayer to extend its functionality, and give a clean path into viewer’s living rooms with the richness and community that the Web offers.

Canvas is said to be at least 12 to 18 months away, and it is still unclear how it would be funded.

The BBC already makes its iPlayer content available in the living room through deals with Virgin Media, Nintendo Wii and Sony's PlayStation 3, and recently made a deal with Nokia to allow users of the Nokia N96 to download iPlayer programs.

The BBC is also looking into developing cross-platform widgets where users could be on the BBC Weather site and take content across with them as they browse the Web. For example, users may take a traffic widget and move it across onto their phone, so ultimately, taking the content with them wherever they want to go.

There are also reports of a children's iPlayer, which could ‘potentially’ launch by the end of the year.

BBC iPlayer had been a great success so far with usage figures cited at 92% of users streaming content, while the rest is downloaded. And since its launch, 220 million videos have been delivered, with users spending an average time of 20-22 minutes with the content.