Broadcasters 'could be charged for IPTV'

Internet service providers (ISPs) may seek payment from broadcasters for allowing their content to be viewed online.

Using on-demand services such as the BBC's iPlayer - which shows television programmes online - requires large amounts of bandwidth and the growing popularity of such sites appears to be impacting on ISPs thinking.

The chief executive of Virgin Media - which has just launched the UK's fastest broadband service - said that the increasing speeds available "will change" the landscape of the business.

Neil Berkett said: "It's time to start to think about alternative business models."

The announcement of Project Canvas, a partnership between the BBC, ITV and BT to deliver content online, could also see charges incurred, analysts told the Financial Times.

Earlier this month, broadband expert Thomas Newton from internet marketing company UK Web Media said that issues with download limits will become "a thing of the past" as the UK's broadband infrastructure improves.