RTVE and FORTA have formally announced the launch of the Spanish DVB-I Pilot that will perform technical evaluations of the DVB-I standard.
The pilot comes out of the framework of the Compostela Agreement and will cover all stakeholders including commercial and public operators. It also supports the continuation of DTT – though this delivery platform is under question in several European markets.
The DVB-I standard is increasingly recognised as a viable solution for securing content prominence on televisions across Europe. The EBU has encouraged its members to initiate national projects in collaboration commercial operators, who share similar obligations as public broadcasters.
In Spain, DTT is still the dominant platform for audiovisual content, providing an ideal setting to explore DVB-I integration within a free-to-air television framework that ensures diversity and reinforces the role of service providers.
The Spanish DVB-I Pilot is expected to run for approximately nine months, and involve collaboration among broadcasters, consumer electronics manufacturers, broadcast network operators, technology suppliers, and service providers. Observers from the National Commission on Markets and Competition and the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Service will also participate.
Initial activities for the Spanish DVB-I Pilot include forming an Implementation Group, reviewing other European DVB-I pilots, and establishing contacts with technology manufacturers and suppliers.
During a presentation of the pilot, attendees were given a demonstration that showcased key functionalities enabled by the DVB-I standard.
