Irdeto is to provide conditional access to the new Media Broadcast hybrid platform Freenet TV.
As previously reported in Broadband TV News, the technical services provider has secured the contract to distribute public service broadcasters ARD and ZDF across three multiplexes. It will use the new DVB-T2 standard in combination with compression system HEVC; a world first.
A further three multiplexes will carry the Freenet TV service, Media Broadcast’s first foray into the consumer market, priced at an annual €69. More than a dozen receiver manufacturers are expected to offer compatible receivers ranging in both functionality and price. There is also the possibility of mobile reception, initially for the PC.
“When we started to migrate to T2 we started to look at which devices and we saw people were using PC mobile. A reason to go with Irdeto was because they wanted a cardless solution and together we’ve developed the first USB stick for content protection,” explains Elmar Moeller, Head of Devices B2C, Media Broadcast.
Broadcasters RTL, Sat.1 and ProSieben can already be found on the satellite-based HD+ card, and again without encryption and a ‘minimal’ fee the broadcasters were reluctant to commit to DTT. Freenet will only broadcast in the cities, giving it around 80% coverage.
Conditional access will be embedded into the receivers. The top-end models will be hybrid units, capable of pulling in OTT delivered channels that will have their own channel number, making their delivery seamless to the viewer.
“The technology needs to enable the experience, so if you’re not building things in you’re the constraining customers,” says Richard Frankland, VP Sales, EMEA, Irdeto. “One of the things we’ve given Freenet is the ability to build in different packages.”
The DVB-T2 transmitter network, which has been broadcasting a pilot service since May, will commence regular transmissions on March 29, 2017.
