The Swedish Radio and TV Authority (RTVV) has published its seventh annual report on electronic programme guides and application programming interfaces. While the authority has not seen any radical changes over the past 12 months, it notes that interactive services are beginning to emerge from a variety of sources rather than from a single solution application. Broadband connectivity has also begun to emerge as a factor, and with consumers looking in other directions to what was originally planned for them the authority sees benefits in the development of common applications and the potential for further regulation.
There have been no issues raised over operators’ practices in the presentation of EPGs, and while the authority will continue to monitor the market it sees no need for further regulation in this area.
As part of the report the authority consulted with Boxer, Canal Digital, Com Hem, TeliaSonera and Viasat, following up the findings from the previous year, and setting them against more recent developments.
Within the Swedish market a number of different application programming interfaces are in use. Convergent solutions that combine traditional TV distribution with a broadband connection are beginning to emerge. Consumers are not demanding the interactive services that were originally envisaged and the authority notes that the development could benefit from common applications. However, it does not see a need for further regulation in the area. The Swedish market should not be considered or regulated in isolation but international developments should also be monitored.
The RTVV agrees with the Swedish government’s assessment of the Electronic Communications Act that the promotion of common standards for applications in terrestrial TV can be achieved through its existing provisions.
When the RTVV was first asked to assess the market in 2003 different APIs were in use, which the government believed held back the development of additional services. The RTVV was given the task of monitoring the situation and to encourage the transition to a common standard.
The 2008 licensing of terrestrial TV services covered both APIs and EPGs, requiring licensees to use a standard set out in the European Commission’s list of standards and specifications. It now seems likely that channels involved in the latest licensing round will also be prepared to sign up to the agreement.
However, despite the RTVV’s preferences and its view that EU-based interoperability would benefit from a standardized application programme, no such common standard has emerged.
The key trend of catch up TV services both through the internet and through cable TV networks is picked up by the authority along, with similar trends through terrestrial and IPTV services. The RTVV has also spotted the connected TV sets being produced by hardware manufacturers, but again notes that the ability to provide internet services through the television set has produced more proprietary work.
Integrated Digital Televisions (IDTVs) are an essential part of the market, particularly now that cable tuners are also available. Cableco Com Hem has begun to offer a package of free digital channels that can be received by anyone with a suitable IDTV and a connection to the network. Com Hem in common with Viasat, Canal Digital and Telia will still offer its own set-top boxes that often have a more sophisticated interface than that found within the IDTVs.
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