Project Canvas, take 2
Last week the BBC Trust announced that it kicking Project Canvas back to the executive for a while.
As I’ve written previously in fairly glowing terms about Canvas—that it can’t happen soon enough—it might surprise you that I think this is a good thing.
The reason is simple: my opinion on Canvas was formed after a certain amount of blank-filling. In order to figure out what the project was, you had to read between the lines of the consultation. As such, there was a chance that I’d be wrong.
The BBC Trust clearly felt the same way. It wants more detail to be provided, so that it’s crystal clear what will and won’t be encompassed by the project.
I have a strong interest in seeing what I believe Project Canvas to entail come to fruition. I’d prefer to know sooner, rather than later, if I’m barking up the wrong tree with the BBC. Given the interoperability implications, I doubt I’m alone in this.
I’m slightly narked, truth be told, that the original consultation didn’t include the fine detail from the outset. Also that the BBC Trust—if it was going to take issue with it at any point—didn’t kick it back before the proposal was put out for public consultation.
My guess is that the Trust didn’t actually realise how much was open to interpretation until it saw stakeholders’ responses, but I must confess that doesn’t entirely inspire confidence.
