Massive Interactive has delivered the first HbbTV based service in Australia for FreeviewPlus.
The new FreeviewPlus HbbTV push will debut in May with all the free-to-air broadcasters signed up to the project which will allow viewers to watch catch-up programming through their television sets.
At the centre of the new offering will be a new electronic program guide which will allow viewers to watch shows which have already been on up to seven days ago if they have the FreeviewPlus box connected to broadband.
Liz Ross, general manager of Freeview, said in a statement: “FreeviewPlus is one of the most important advances in free-to-air television in Australia since the introduction of digital TV.
“We expect that with the launch of FreeviewPlus, Australians will continue their love of FTA TV as more and more viewers watch their favourite shows when they want to watch them on their TV with the simple press of a button.”
The FreeviewPlus solution is built around the Massivision Managed Video Platform (MVP), which includes Massive’s Multi-screen Development Kit and Storefront Manager (MDK and MSM) products.
The FreeviewPlus service, which is due to go live later this year will feature a 7-day forwards and catch-up EPG; FTA catch-up TV accessed through the EPG and channel portals; Showcasing of shows across all FTA networks, Ability to browse and search programmes for the next 7 days and favourites and reminders functions.
“Working with Massive Interactive has enabled us to create an unprecedented service that our member free-to-air networks are proud to present to the Australian consumer market”, said Liz Ross, General Manager of Freeview. “Massive Interactive’s ability to provide a cost-effective, robust and scalable service that delivers a simple, attractive and easy to navigate HbbTV EPG user interface through their MVP, is the key technology enabler for the FreeviewPlus service”.
“Building on our experience with HbbTV in Europe, we have delivered an HbbTV standard service for a client and truly showcased the flexibility and effectiveness of both our team and technology”, said Max Ramsay, COO Massive Interactive.
“FreeviewPlus is setting the standards for the next generation of Freeview services and I am very proud that Massive Interactive has had such an integral role in bringing this project to life”.
