Guardian.co.uk follows the same line, but with stronger pessimism: “There have been discussions between Project Canvas’s backers about whether, if the BBC is too hamstrung to launch an effective service, the other partners should forge ahead without the corporation.”

Project Canvas is the BBC’s proposal to harmonise VOD access on connected TVs; it thinks varying methods will fragment the viewer experience. It’s conceived as a free alternative to pay-TV VOD provision, so has riled Virgin Media (NSDQ: VMED) and Sky, but the BBC has promised pay-TV functionality and invited them aboard. Channel 4 and TalkTalk last week joined BBC, ITV (LSE: ITV) and BT (NYSE: BT) as partners. It will be a JV with an equal voting split.

The timetable has been put back because the original proposal wasn’t detailed enough. Canvas-enabled TVs are now expected to be on sale from late 2010, meaning they miss the opportunity to piggyback a marketing campaign for Freeview HD next year. paidContent:UK understands BT has already been testing a set-top box with Canvas-type features.

Ahead of the verdict, here are links to our key Canvas coverage…

—VOD Arm’s Race: C4, TalkTalk Join Canvas; C4, Five Mounting SeeSaw?
—Look Out, Canvas - A Fifth Of TVs Will Have Internet In 2010
—Pay-For ITV Could Succeed, On Canvas
—BSkyB, Virgin Media Agree ‘No Need For Project Canvas’
—Video: BBC’s Huggers Shows Off Project Canvas Possibities; Says ‘We’re Not Doing Social Networking’
—Pay TV Inquiry: BT Using Canvas As Stick For Sky Carrot
—European Broadcasters Propose Their Own Project Canvas
—Canvas Is In Danger Of Looking Like A Monopoly
—Three Consultations Isn’t Enough For Canvas-Wary Sky
—Why Carphone Should Throw Tiscali TV’s Lot In With Canvas
—Canvas’ Missing Bits: Targeted Ads, Micropayments, Global Ambition
—Canvas Views: Google Wants In, Responses To BBC Digested
—Canvas Will Explode UK TV, But BBC Must Stand Back
—Updated: Sky Slams BBC’s Canvas As Anti-Competitive, Partners Respond
—BBC’s Canvas May Need OFT, Ofcom Scrutiny, Ofcom Says
—@ IPTV World Forum: BBC Canvas ‘Not About Creating IPTV Standard’
—Sky Opposes iPlayer Sharing, Net Neutrality, Spooked By Canvas
—BBC’s Project Canvas Consultation Kicks Off; Paid-For Services Possible
—ITV, BT Join BBC’s Project Canvas, Teaming For Open VOD IPTV