More interactivity is to be introduced into the Freeview platform as part of the next generation of features put forward by the DTG.
Included is an enhanced electronic programme guide, with the ability to go backwards as well as forwards, already found in TiVo and a part of YouView’s plans. Remote booking will allow viewers to set reminders or set recordings remotely. “The backwards and forwards EPG is not just about IP catch-up, we’ve also added in things like in the forwards EPG the ability to link to a trailer or linking to a programme related website,” DTG technical director Simon Gauntlett told Broadband TV News. “The majority of people want to go to a channel that they know and get what’s relevant, rather than searching through a Google TV.”
Further details will be given during the annual DTG summit that is taking place this Friday (March 2).
There is also a move to bring MHEG under the auspices of the European standards body ETSI, while there are enhancements to subtitles, audio description and text-to-speech for connected devices. The DTG plans to publish all enhancements to the UK MHEG profile through ETSI to ensure that all international platforms derived from ETSI can benefit from the DTG’s technical leadership.
Gauntlett said the DTG was maintaining links with the HbbTV group and said the relationship had never been better. “We’ve taken HBB standards and said how do we make them work for the UK and what can we then feed back into HBBtv to get them back up to the standard required in the UK by service providers. We’ve got the feeling that UK service requirements and the demands of the consumer are higher than those in some European territories.
In the spring work will begin on second screen and home networking. The DTG will also focus on future uses of spectrum such as LTE and White Spaces.
An updated version of the D Book will be published on March 31.
