UK broadcasters unite for web Freeview

 

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By Alun Williams

Posted on 15 Jun 2007 at 11:41

A joint video-on-demand download service could be available from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, industry sources have revealed. The broadband-based service would see the major UK terrestrial broadcasters present a common face to consumers, as they already do for the Freeview free-to-air digital TV services.

Dubbed 'Project Kangaroo', it would enable users to download the programmes of their choice via the same interface, reports The Guardian.

'There is still a lot to be agreed, nothing is signed yet, but they want to do what Freeview did for digital TV, but in terms of content delivered via a broadband platform,' an industry source told the newspaper.

Channel 4 led the way in this field: ther braodcaster launched its 4od video-on-demand service last April, before becoming the first major UK broadcaster to offer its shows online simultaneously with its broadcast schedule last June.

At the beginning of last month ITV also unveiled its own plans, for the £20 million re-launch of its ITV.com service, which will provide live programmes, a 30-day catch-up service and access to its archive via the internet.

At the same time, the BBC Trust gave its official go-ahead for the Corporation to launch a range of web-based on-demand TV and audio services with it's long-awaited iPlayer.

How 'Project Kangaroo' affects the much-touted iPlayer is not exactly clear. But the iPlayer is expected to provide free access to any BBC show from the previous week.