Zattoo will add HbbTV to its latest Android TV Operator Tier certified 4K/UHD set-top box.
The availability of established broadcast technology such as HbbTV gives Zattoo’s operator customers the flexibility to both benefit from the latest and greatest in TV tech while giving subscribers access to proven features and functionality, according to Zattoo.
The most common implementation of HbbTV is that of a content aggregation application published and maintained by broadcasters or content owners to be offered via traditional broadcast methods, according to the company. These HbbTV-compliant applications can offer a mix of live, on-demand and interactive services, the latter used mostly during multi-event sports tournaments such as the Olympics, in addition to rich data-driven services such as local news, weather and financial markets information.
The look and feel of the HbbTV application is defined by the broadcaster or content owner, as is the hosting, delivery and surfacing of content within the HbbTV app. The user navigates and interacts with the HbbTV app using the quick access four colour code buttons and directional pad (D-pad) available on the remote control of the set-top box.
“We see the TV experience as the chance to engage viewers in a positive, enjoyable and relaxing experience. By implementing HbbTV within the Zattoo Android TV application, we have the opportunity to further enhance this experience by engaging the viewer from within the context they are consuming content from,” said Michal Jurczyk, Android Tech Lead at Zattoo.
“It also gives Zattoo a well standardised platform to offer access to these additional content services offered by broadcasters in a quick and efficient manner. Whilst this implementation provided us and our partners at Fraunhofer FOKUS with some interesting challenges with it being one of the first such integrations of HbbTV into a TV service centric Android TV application, we are very happy with the results, as we expect our viewers will be,” added Jurczyk.
The Android TV 4K/UHD set-top box has been deployed by Zattoo TV platform customers and can be leveraged by any operator or media company wanting to expand their IPTV/OTT offering, according to Zattoo. Among the first customers are German ADSL provider 1&1, Swiss telco Azienda Multiservizi Bellinzona (AMB) and Swiss network operator senseLAN.