A local TV group has complained to regulator Ofcom that IPTV joint venture Project Canvas poses a serious threat to local TV in the UK.

Entertainment website Digital Spy reported that Six TV has added its voice to that of Virgin Media and IP Vision in formally requesting a full investigation into the BBC-led venture which aims to bring internet services and video-on-demand to the Freeview and Freesat platforms.

Six TV is said to be developing three general entertainment channels covering Oxford, Reading, Southampton and Portsmouth and argued that Project Canvas would be “catastrophic for small-scale service providers”.

Six TV chief executive Daniel Cass said: “Some parties appear to present the Project Canvas platform as the answer to the challenges faced by new local TV services.

"Far from a panacea, we regard Project Canvas as a poison pill which will have a negative effect on opportunities for important new television services to enter the market.

"We are calling upon Ofcom to launch a full investigation of the actions of the joint venture partners as we do not believe local TV will be viable in the UK otherwise."