Five explains Canvas exit

Broadcaster gives reasons for pulling out of Project Canvas

Five has withdrawn its participation in Project Canvas

Channel Five has pulled out of Project Canvas. The TV-on-demand service for set-top boxes is due for completion in the first half of 2011.

The project will continue to go ahead with the backing of the BBC, BT, ITV, Channel 4, TalkTalk and Arqiva, but Five will not pursue further involvement with it, pending a review of its digital investment strategy.

A Five spokesman told Computing that although it will not be part of Project Canvas, the channel is looking to other digital platforms to make its content more accessible to viewers.

“Making our content more accessible is still a priority, hence the widespread syndication of content from Demand Five on the new Sony Bravia TVs and third-party web sites such as YouTube, TV.com and Seesaw,” said the spokesman.

A pitfall of Project Canvas is that it will not be available online or on smartphones; areas on which Five is keen to focus with its own digital strategy.

“Making content available via smartphones also falls within this strategy and is something we’re actively investigating. In fact, we already offer an iPhone app for our live Europa League football coverage,” added the spokesman.

Five said it will continue to support the objectives of Project Canvas despite withdrawing its interest in the venture. Charles Constable, director of strategy at Five, said that it may yet play a part in the project some time in the future.

“We believe it will be a critical part of our strategy for reaching consumers in the future,” he said.

Richard Halton, director at Project Canvas, added: “We’ve had excellent support from Five. They share our goal of bringing the benefits of internet-connected TV to all. We look forward to working with them as a content provider to the platform in the future.”