BBC Trust publishes some trivia about Canvas

Thanks to a recent submission from BBC management, published yesterday by the BBC Trust, we now have some idea of what Project Canvas is expected to cost, and how it will be run by its shareholders. £115.6 million over four years is the grand total (The Guardian), although the BBC thinks Canvas will make back £17 million in revenues. Assuming the current four partners (BBC, ITV, Five and BT), that makes £24.7 million each, but this goes down to £16.4 million apiece if the BBC finds another two playmates, which they think they can do.

paidContent:UK explains that, in light of earlier consultation responses, the BBC proposes a shareholding structure that does not necessarily ensure control for the PSB broadcasters. Indeed, the arrival of new investors could allow Canvas to be controlled by entirely commercial, non-PSB entities, leading the BBC to propose enshrining public service commitments into the Articles of the company.

Inviting comments on this new information, the BBC Trust notes that "given the specific nature of this change, which does not affect other aspects of the Canvas proposal, we are offering a short period for responses," with a deadline two weeks from yesterday. You can understand why. It's only the project's governance and funding they're talking about - nothing really important.