The DTG has published details of the technology foundations to Freeview Play, the new connected TV service on the UK’s terrestrial platform.
They’re contained in the new D-Book 8, the requirements for DTT interoperability in the UK, which also include support for clearance of the 700MHz band and potential broadcasts in HEVC.
Richard Lindsay-Davies, chief executive of the DTG, said: “The D-Book 8 is a milestone for digital terrestrial TV in the UK, laying the groundwork for a new generation of connected TVs and set-top boxes. I’d like to thank the industry for its continued hard work on standards which will maintain the relevance of digital terrestrial TV to consumers through a changing spectrum environment and its evolution into a hybrid platform.”
Freeview Play is based on the global HbbTV 2.0 (Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV) specification for connected TV services, which itself uses a specifications developed for the D-Book 7 Part B published in 2012.
Smart retuning ensures that products will retain users’ favourite channel lists, region selection and recording schedules when the channel list is updated.
While there is no plan to broadcast services using HEVC on digital terrestrial TV in the UK, the recommended support for HEVC-signalled services will give manufacturers an additional opportunity to extend product life as the platform evolves.
In addition to the UK, the D-Book has become an essential reference volume for other countries, including Australia and New Zealand.
