Televisions with web access may be launched by next year, say experts (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Televisions with web access may be launched by next year, say experts

9:30am Wednesday 23rd December 2009 in

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A provisional thumbs-up for a project which could kick-start demand for internet television has delivered a pre-Christmas boost for Saltaire-based set top box maker Pace.

Bosses at the firm, which has 450 staff based in Salts Mill, are remaining tight-lipped, but are understood to be keeping their fingers crossed that the move will open up another new market for its products.

Supporters of the project say it will enable people to watch what they want, when they want it. Users will also be able to access internet services such as Facebook, YouTube and Flickr through televisions.

The BBC Trust, the corporation’s governing body, has given a provisional go-ahead for Project Canvas, a partnership between the BBC, ITV, BT, Five, Channel 4 and TalkTalk to develop a so-called Internet Protocol Television standard.

It would see a range of set-top boxes available to access on-demand TV services such as iPlayer and ITV player. Set-top boxes, expected to cost around £200, could be available next year.

In the past three years Pace has become the world’s third-largest designer and maker of set top boxes, winning a second Queen’s Award for international trade this year for exporting to leading pay-TV operators across the globe The digital TV technology company clinched a deal to supply set-top boxes to Argentina’s largest cable operator, Cablevision, a major milestone for its new product.

It also had a breakthrough for its new Multidweller product which enables digital signals to be provided to multi-occupancy premises without the need to rewire the building. It signed a deal that will see the system installed in some of the world’s top hotels to provide tailored broadcast services in guest rooms.

A Pace spokesman said: “We’ve long been innovators in the TV industry so, as you would expect, we welcome all initiatives, including Canvas, which aim to evolve how we watch and use TV. The news from the BBC Trust is a preliminary approval, and we’ll be awaiting the Trust’s conclusion which is expected in spring 2010.

“Pace is already seen as a worldwide leader in the development of set-top boxes which allow viewers to access video-on-demand and catch-up TV services, similar to those which Canvas aims to support.

“These hybrid devices, which deliver content using both broadcast and broadband, are among the principle technologies changing the way we consume content, and we’ll ensure we continue to lead technological developments which advance the digital TV viewing experience.”

He would not comment on whether the BBC project would lead to any new jobs at Saltaire or whether Pace would be directly involved.

The green light for Project Canvas was given after a consultation which attracted more than 800 written responses.

BBC Trust spokesman Diane Coyle said: “We believe Canvas could be an important part of the way in which the BBC delivers its services in the future.”

It is proposing some conditions on the BBC’s participation in the venture and will have a further period of consultation, lasting until February. The Trust imposed conditions on the BBC, including giving other content providers access to the system and that it should be available without subscription.