First results of German DVB-I Pilot to be shown at IBC 2022

The “German DVB-I Pilot” ̶ a new cross-organisation initiative exploits the opportunities for a future-proof TV experience

AMSTERDAM — Stakeholders from the media industry, including broadcasters, device manufacturers, software providers and research companies announce the start of the “German DVB-I Pilot”. The project develops a common understanding of the DVB-I functionality and challenges as well as a standardised future scenario to include the complete DVB-I ecosystem. The initiative will showcase first results during IBC, at EBU’s booth in hall 10 (10.D21) and at the stand of the DVB Project in hall 1 (1.B73), from 9 to 12 September in Amsterdam.

DVB-I enables an easy access to video streaming offers of linear programmes over the internet, ensuring the same user-friendly experience than traditional TV broadcasting on TV sets. Due to DVB-I’s standardised open approach, enhanced TV services can basically be delivered to any devices that have internet access and a media player, including smart TVs, tablets and smartphones. The key features of the specification are structured service lists which enable a harmonised user interface, low latency streaming and many options for additional services. They include HbbTV offers, programme guides, accessibility services, genre-based and event channels. Furthermore, with DVB-I, the IP streams can be combined with conventional broadcast over satellite, cable and terrestrial to provide a hybrid experience.

In this manner, DVB-I paves the way for a transition to an internet-based media distribution. The “German DVB-I Pilot” is already supported by 19 organisations, including ARD, bmt, Dolby, DVB, EBU, Fraunhofer FOKUS, LG, MIT-xperts, OnScreen Publishing, ProSiebenSat.1 Media, rbb, RTL Deutschland, Sofia Digital, Sony, TARA Systems, TP Vision, Vestel, WDR and ZDF.

Remo Vogel (rbb), Project Manager of the “German DVB-I Pilot” stated: “We’re pleased to see strong support from across the broadcast industry. With the pilot project we want to demonstrate a vision for a national market scenario, gather experience with the aggregati on of service lists and identify technical gaps and requirements in the standard. The pilot project has a limited duration and does not, for now, include a decision for a market roll-out in Germany.”

The technical architecture includes service list aggregation and discovery via a Central Service List Registry (CSR). Further features are the inclusion of HbbTV as an integral part of the programmes today, solutions for DRM and subscription-based services, dynamically added event channels, region-specific channel sorting, EPGs with links to media libraries, playlists as channels, radio services, Next Generation Audio and much more.

At IBC, the “German DVB-I Pilot” is a partner at EBU’s booth 10.D21 in hall 10. Participants of the pilot will showcase the German DVB-I service list including a great variety of services on different devices e. g. smart TV, streaming client, smart watch and AR device. Furthermore the “German DVB-I Pilot” is demonstrated at the booth of the DVB Project, 1.B73.