The BBC today offered to share its iPlayer technology with other broadcasters and announced plans to produce a new generation of set-top boxes to allow viewers to use the service through their television sets.

The corporation said that it was willing to hand over the technology behind its online television portal to broadcasters such as ITV and Channel 4 as part of its final submission to a review of public service broadcasting being carried out by Ofcom, the industry watchdog.

The broadcaster also announced that it had formed a partnership with ITV and BT to create what it billed as the “next generation” of Freeview, the digital terrestrial service, and could roll out new, internet-enabled set-top boxes within 18 months.

The two ideas form part of a raft of proposals by the BBC that the corporation hopes will stave off any attempts to take away part of its licence fee or BBC Worldwide, its highly profitable commercial arm, to prop up ailing commercial broadcasters.

The iPlayer, which was launched on Christmas Day last year, has proved phenomenally successful, with more than 237 million programmes being transmitted over the service so far.

The corporation said that it was willing “to share the iPlayer technology and brand” so that other public service broadcasters could “use the same technology to support their own branded, independent on-demand service”.

There were even suggestions that the iPlayer could become a “common gateway” to the offerings of all broadcasters that had signed up to the technology. It is not yet clear how the service would relate to Kangaroo, a similar joint venture between the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 that the Competition Commission last week said would restrict competition.

Channel 4 immediately announced it was sceptical about plans to share the technology. Andy Duncan, chief executive of the broadcaster, said: “We've given the BBC clear feedback that their assumptions about the commercial benefits of a link with the iPlayer are inaccurate.”

The BBC said its internet-connected television proposals, known as Project Canvas, could be put into operation as soon as 2010. The corporation plans to produce a new generation of set-top box that would connect via broadband to the internet and download television-quality footage.

Mr Thompson described the notion as “potentially the holy grail of future public service broadcasting provision in the UK” and invited other broadcasters to come on board.

Michael Grade, Executive Chairman of ITV said: "This proposal will bring catch-up from the PC to the TV set in your living room, and all for free. This makes convergence a reality. It will also future-proof our free-to-air platforms, Freeview and Freesat. We are delighted to be working with the BBC, BT and other ISPs to bring this idea to fruition for viewers.”

Other BBC proposals include using the BBC website to channel traffic to other broadcasters, as well as plans to pool local news footage and drop listings fees it charges newspapers for BBC programmes.

The corporation claims its research could generate more than £120 million of benefits to public service broadcasters beyond the BBC, but other broadcasters queried those figures. Ofcom is due to give its PSB review findings early next yea

Times Recommends

• Minister in talks with Saudis to protect creditors
• Premier Inn hits back in £29-a-room row
• Bankers hit back at 'populist' bonus supertax