There’s some buzz about on a few websites concerning Sky’s new DTT product - Picnic. It is claimed that Sky employees are now testing the pay-TV Freeview add-on in their homes. It got me thinking:

Which UK media product or service has had the slowest release because of regulation?

– Sky Picnic. Well Sky proposed Picnic to Ofcom on 26 April last year and Ofcom’s thought process continues. So we haven’t quite hit the one year mark yet. Although the very fact that Ofcom consulted on the new service and asked a few ‘heavy-touch’ questions probably means it will push beyond a year, or come very close.

– BBC iPlayer. The BBC Trust’s predecessor initiated a Public Value Test on the iPlayer on 31 August 2006. It concluded on 30 April 2007. So, that was just nine months.

– Ofcom PSP. If I recall correctly, Ofcom first came up with the PSP idea in September 2004, in Phase 2 of its Public Service Broadcasting Review. Anyone have any idea where that one is heading? The Ofcom folks at the Oxford Media Convention said something like ‘its early days yet’ when pressed for details on the PSP, so I suppose it might be ready in time for digital switchover? Maybe it’s part of the Crossrail budget?