Specialist software developer Ocean Blue is putting the finishing touches to a broadband return path for use with DTT. The Bristol-based company is working with the DTG standards design group on broadband support for MHEG-5, the middleware used by DTT in the UK, and slated for the new Freesat service.
The new MHEG return channel would be able to add interactive voting, shopping and video-on-demand. The standard is likely to be approved by the DTG later this year, allowing manufacturers to develop set-top boxes with broadband and dial-up (PTSN) access.
When digital TV was launched in the UK ten years ago, the original On Digital boxes featured a built in modem, but after the failure of the subscription service the modem was not included in the new specification.
