The HbbTV Association has updated its core specification for the delivery of advanced interactive TV services through broadcast and broadband networks for connected TV sets and set-top boxes.
Version 2.0.4 adds integration with voice assistants, with accessibility features, such as dialogue enhancement or user interface magnification. Also included are the new DVB-I standard, enabling HbbTV Red Button applications to be used with live and linear TV services received as a DVB-I stream via broadband networks. Their availability depends on the TV set or set-top box supporting the underlying feature.
There are also a number of smaller enhancements and fixes to errors found in previous versions of the HbbTV specification. The HbbTV Association has published a full list of features and changes that can be found in the resources library of its website.
“This new version of the HbbTV core specification represents a huge amount of work by our members over the last 18 months. With this new milestone, the key global and European stakeholders of the TV world have evidenced their commitment to make sure HbbTV is always and fully up to the challenges of bringing a compelling TV experience to viewers,” said Vincent Grivet, Chairman of the HbbTV Association.
Jon Piesing, HbbTV Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the Specification Group which spearheaded the specification development process, added: “We are excited about the opportunities HbbTV 2.0.4 creates to improve the experiences for users of HbbTV applications and services. Integration with voice assistants is significant as voice input becomes more widely used in user interfaces of TV sets and other home devices. Accessibility features are an essential addition in the context of the European Accessibility Act. Integration with DVB-I is important as the distribution of live/linear programming via IP streams to TV sets becomes more widespread in the future.”
The HbbTV Association will shortly be issuing a Request for Proposals for the development of unit tests for the new features. While some of them may be reviewed and approved in time to be included in HbbTV’s July 2023 Conformance Test Suite release, most should be ready to be included in the February/March 2024 Test Suite release.
