HbbTV is a great technology but not really taking off in France, according to Philippe Lerer, business manager, Quadrille.
Speaking in a panel discussion entitled Making Hybrid TV a reality at the Hispasat Innovation Day in London, he added that this contrasted with the situation in Germany. On the other hand, in his view mixed satellite and broadband are the future and the way to go.
Earlier, speaking in a panel discussion entitled Digital TV distribution in Europe, Bernd Meinl, head of broadcast satellite service, Media Broadcast, had said that HbbTV offers up possibilities. These include placing commercials in specific regions. The big question now is “GDPR and how it will affect us. It’s definitely a game changer”.
Lerer said that the DNA of Quadrille is broadcast, both terrestrial and satellite. When it comes to the consumption of content, it sees that even in the case of linear there are different kinds of trends. Live events, for instance, are watched by viewers when they matter to them.
Meanwhile, Sergio Calabrese, director sales Southern Europe, Verimatrix, said that his company was already focused on IP when it was founded in 2000. “Now, the market is coming to us”.
He added that Verimatrix is now in partnership with Hispasat and looking to distribute content in different ways. The challenge is how to continue protection from the pay-TV point of view.
We should also consider hybrid as not only the device but also the way we protect it. In short, we should be looking at hybrid protection.
Speaking in the same panel, Arnault Lannuzel, VP sales LATAM & South Europe, Broadpeak, said that there is a need to offer more services and to be creative in order to make hybrid TV a reality. Content is key, and in the case of satellite operators all are fighting to reduce their distribution costs.
