German platform operator HD+ will offer Astra satellite households the features of pausing, time-shifting and restarting the currently running TV programme from November 20, 2023.
The interactive functions will initially be available for the public channels, the channels of commercial broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 as well as MTV and Comedy Central, with more channels to follow.
The features are made possible by the revised HD+ TV app, which combines satellite television with IP streaming. The technical basis is the HbbTV Operator Application (HbbTV OpApp): At the viewer’s request, the HD+ TV app is installed when the smart TV is first set up, equipping the device with the HD+ user interface. According to HD+, the HD+ TV app is already integrated into 80% of all newly sold UHD TV sets in Germany.
With the HD+ TV app, viewers can test HD+’s HD and UHD channel line-up free of charge and without obligation for six months and use the interactive features. They also include a search function covering live TV and catch-up content, as well as a home page with recommendations from the live TV and on-demand offer. Viewers will also automatically be notified trough a on-screen caption when the currently running programme is available in UHD quality. The update is to be rolled out to all TV sets on which the HD+ TV app is activated by the beginning of 2024.
The TV app and its new hybrid functionalities open up “new possibilities for satellite households that were previously known primarily from IPTV providers”, taking convenience “to a new level”, said Andreas Müller-Vondey, Managing Director of HD Plus.
Viewers who decide not to sign up for an HD+ subscription after the free trial period can continue using the TV app free of charge. The HD+ channels will then no longer be available, but can be replaced by the SD versions. The pause function, the home page and the recently launched Vielfalt+ package with 13 HD channels remain available to non-subscribers.