Leading role for connected hybrid devices

IFA 2010 – BERLIN. Broadcasters, platform operators, consumer manufacturers and other parties are showing connected hybrid devices at this year’s IFA in Berlin signaling new roads for television.

In the TecWatch section in Hall 8, Eutelsat’s Kabelkiosk is showing more advanced applications for its HbbTV service, the first end-to-end solution for cable operators in Europe for hybrid television. By pressing the Red Button, viewers can access additional information as well as VOD. This year, the VOD offer also includes HD programming.

Public broadcaster ZDF is showcasing a new version of its catch-up TV service ZDF Mediatek, which allows viewers to directly access content on their TV set using the remote control (see picture). Public broadcaster ARD has earmarked HbbTV as the main focus for this year’s event. The ProSiebenSat.1 group is also showcasing the new connected TV technology at the fair. The broadcaster will start regular test broadcast during the show.

German sports channel Sport1, part of Constantin media, will also present interactive teletext with multimedia features.

German manufacturer TechniSat is showing its new MultyVision ISIO, a TV set equipped with a so called Dual-HDTV-Multituner, which is capable of receiving DVB-S, DVB-T, and DVB-C as well as access multimedia content from the Internet. The set also boosts two CI+ interfaces and a smart card reader for embedded Conax. TechniSat also shows two connetced satellite receivers, the DIGIT ISIO S and DigiCorder ISIO S.

NOTE – This section will be updated during IFA with more HbbTV and connected TV information.