DTG publishes D-Book 7

Next generation specification for UK Connected TV published

LONDON — The Digital TV Group (DTG), the industry association for digital TV in the UK, has published the 7th edition of the ‘D-Book’, the detailed interoperability specification for UK Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT). D-Book 7 defines the critical interoperable coexistence of broadcast and broadband services and devices.

Drafted by manufacturers, service providers and the technology community, D-Book 7 is the product of 18 months intense collaboration, resulting in a specification that maximises the use of international standards while maintaining proven interoperability with the UK broadcast systems. It is anticipated that D-Book 7 will be referenced by manufacturers, service providers and platforms for the delivery of Connected TV products and services in the UK market. To ensure international harmonisation of standards wherever possible, the DTG is in liaison with HbbTV, ETSI, the Open IPTV Forum (OIPF) and DECE (Ultraviolet).

D-Book 7 also enhances the current UK DTT broadcast specification which was published as D-Book 6 by the DTG in 2009 . D-Book 6 introduced DVB-T2 MPEG-4 services enabling the launch of the Freeview HD service.

D-Book 7 is published as the DTG announces a series of initiatives to prepare for the completion of Digital Switchover (DSO) in 2012, building on the recommendations of the DTG’s open consultation Delivering an Interoperable, Efficient, Stable and Innovating Horizontal Digital TV Market.

DTG Chairman, David Docherty said: “We are delighted that D-Book 7 has been published on schedule and would like to thank all our members who have committed so much energy and resource to making it a reality.

“The completion of an industry-agreed interoperability specification for Connected TV is another landmark moment in UK digital television, following on from last year’s introduction of HD services on Freeview.

“A key finding of our recent consultation on the future of the horizontal digital television market was that there is a real desire to make sure that the platform continues to evolve after switchover. D-Book 7 will help us ensure the platform continues to advance and innovate while ensuring that the consumer is protected by a robust, industry-agreed interoperability standard.

“Our consultation told us that the industry believes that the DTG and its Council has a unique role to play in drawing together the whole digital and internet television industry to address post switchover challenges and maximise consumer value. That’s why we’re announcing a series of initiatives to ensure that industry can work together to define and deliver a clear roadmap for the ongoing interoperability, stability and technical development of the UK’s horizontal digital television platform following the completion of digital switchover.”

D-Book 7

D-Book 7 builds on the ground-breaking 6th edition with:

New UK Connected TV specification including:

“¢ IP delivery structures supporting video, audio and access services.

“¢ HTML profile for interactive applications with enhanced graphics

“¢ Metadata to improve search and discovery of services

“¢ Support for improved audience measurement and targeted advertising

“¢ New structure to enable support for multiple DRMs

Enhancements to the existing broadcast specification:

“¢ Clarifications of video and audio handling of advanced codecs, including maintaining consistent audio levels.

“¢ Enhanced Service Information (SI) particularly in the areas of regionalisation and logical channel numbers

“¢ RF sections updated to reflect the new Northern Ireland Multiplex and protection against interference from new technologies such as LTE