HbbTV
Overview
HbbTV (Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV) is a European digital TV standard, but has become a global initiative in the last five years. It brings together elements of many other standards and existing web technologies (such as OIPF, CEA, WC3 and DVB) to harmonise the delivery of broadcast and broadband content to consumers.
Through a hybrid IPTV set-top box or connected TV, HbbTV software enables consumers to access new broadcaster services including catch-up TV, video on demand (VoD), interactive advertising, voting, games, and social networking, as well as programme-related services such as digital text and EPGs.
Features
This global initiative has been developed with the end user in mind to ensure that they are getting the best possible viewing experience; it has been developed by industry leaders with the end goal of improving the video user experience for consumers by enabling innovative and interactive services over broadcast and broadband networks.
Interactive Advertising
Voting
Video-on-Demand
EPG
Teletext
Catch up TV
HbbTV Market Adoption
HbbTV is actively deployed worldwide. Germany, The Netherlands, and France were amongst the first to launch HbbTV services, with other European countries following suit when they saw the potential it provided. For example, Polish public broadcaster TVP began its HbbTV activities just before Euro 2012 and has since launched apps for other sporting events, such as the London Olympic Games and the World Cup. Czech Republic and Slovakia have made similar progress in pioneering apps for the World Cup and other sporting events. The UK adopted HbbTV as part of its Freeview Play standard, and it is also gaining interest outside of Europe, in areas such as: Australia, South-East Asia, and Africa. In Australia, Freeview formally launched HbbTV under its licensed name ‘Freeview Plus’.
HbbTV Infrastructure
OBS HbbTV Solutions
OBS offers a complete HbbTV compliant solution based on a series of software components:
- DVB stack to receive digital broadcast
- DSM-CC for the broadcast transmission of applications
- QT Webkit based HbbTV compliant browser
Find Out More
If you would like to know more about Ocean Blue Software's HbbTV solution, please get with us at info@oceanbluesoftware.co.uk