DVB issues RfP for reference DVB-I app for Android and HbbTV

RfP seeks reference DVB-I app for Android and HbbTV

The DVB Project has issued a Request for Proposals (RfP) for the development and validation of a reference application for DVB-I, the forthcoming specification designed to ensure that linear television services over the internet are as user-friendly and robust as traditional broadcast television.

DVB-I, through internet-delivered service lists and content guides, will offer a standard way to integrate several live/linear television services into a single service offering, regardless of whether the services themselves are delivered over broadband (DVB-DASH) or broadcast.

Building on IBC momementum

At the recent IBC2019 exhibition, the DVB stand hosted the world’s first showcase of DVB-I services in a collaborative demonstration involving 12 DVB Member companies. Three DVB-I client applications were shown, two running on Android and one on HbbTV. The demo also included DVB-DASH delivery using the newly specified low latency mode and multicast streaming based on the emerging DVB-mABR specification.

In fostering the creation of a reference application, DVB hopes to build on the positive feedback received at IBC2019. There has been a high level of interest in DVB-I, which offers significant potential benefits for broadcasters and manufacturers alike. It will enable broadcasters and other content providers to deploy common services across a wide range of devices. Manufacturers will be able to offer a single consistent user experience for all video services.

DVB-I and HbbTV

The RfP calls for the delivery of HTML5 and JavaScript code that can run both on Android devices (either as a WebView-based application or a Progressive Web App) and on HbbTV devices. For the latter, both an HbbTV Operator Application and a regular HbbTV broadcast-related app are foreseen.

As is made clear through the RfP deliverables, DVB-I and HbbTV are complementary solutions. On one hand, it is possible to create an HbbTV application that reads a DVB-I service list and offers it to the user; but a DVB-I service list can also include both broadcast and DVB-DASH broadband services that have an associated HbbTV ‘red button’ application. Furthermore, a DVB-I service list can include services that are themselves an HbbTV app, where the app takes the responsibility for presenting the video and audio.

RfP deadline

Interested parties are invited to submit proposals by the deadline of Monday 28 October. Information about how the proposal should be structured is included in Annex 1, while Annex 2 lists the detailed functional requirements.

The successful applicant(s) will be expected to deliver the first public demonstration of the Phase 1 requirements at the DVB World 2020 conference in Valencia on 9-11 March.