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Hbb-TV firmly backed by EBU
Chris Forrester ©RapidTVNews | 07-12-2009
The Hybrid Broadband Broadcasting (HBB) TV standard is somewhat controversial, but has been firmly endorsed by the European Broadcasting Union at its General Assembly.
The Hbb-TV initiative has the support of important players like SES Astra, Canal+, France Televisions and others including Germany's Institut für Rundfunktechnik. The EBU summed up its view on the technology saying it was "one of the most exciting developments" in today's media.
Delegates to an EBU-hosted event saw transmissions of HBB material from Germany, and it is Germany that's likely to see an early introduction of suitable TV sets that are Hbb-enabled. The Hbb consortium has already passed its recommended Hbb-TVconcept to international standards body ETSI for ratification.
Through the adoption of Hbb-TV, consumers will be able to access new services from entertainment providers such as broadcasters, online providers and CE manufacturers - including catch-up TV, video on demand (VoD), interactive advertising, personalisation, voting, games and social networking as well as programme-related services such as digital text and EPGs. Hbb-TV products and services will be developed for all broadcasting technologies including satellite, cable and terrestrial networks. The first satellite demonstrations were showcased last year at IFA and IBC.
© Rapid TV News 2009
