(cc) by-nd henrybloomfield/flickr

ISBA, which represents the interests of the British advertising industry, has thrown its weight behind Project Canvas, the 'son-of-Kangaroo' next-gen Freeview boxes that will allow full video-on-demand and some interactivity. Essentially, they appear to believe that a commercial alternative is necessary to prevent the BBC's iPlayer becoming the only game in town for VOD (read: no advertising!). Whilst the BBC will be involved in the project, being a significant driver, (likely especially from the technology and development side), the project is a joint venture between them, ITV and BT (through its Vision department).

The concept still has to go through a review by the BBC Trust, and there's still the very real possibility of a Competition Commission review which will ask many of the same questions as they did about Project Kangaroo, so it's early days - but if it gets the go ahead the timeline is pretty quick, with an early 2010 launch posited.

(cc) by-nd Tim Loudon/flickrNew Media Age reports that the BBC Trust has begun consultation about Project Canvas - a mooted BBC development to create an open platform for online video available to all (UK?) broadcasters.

Comparisons are being drawn with Project Kangaroo, but the connection is only loose - indications are that this platform would not include the apparatus for commercialisation, though nothing suggests other broadcasters would be unable to add these to the offering; it all depends on how the project develops.

It's early days, but they have gone to the Trust first, whose job it is to determine whether such a development would be in the interests of the Licence Fee Payers - though there's nothing to stop the Competition Commission, who ultimately sunk Kangaroo, from entering the fray as well.