S&T Aims for Web Power on TV
Strategy & Technology, a provider of interactive systems for DTT platforms in the UK, has been working on a new technical specification intended to combine the power of the Internet with interactive TV.
The sixth edition of the Digital TV Group’s D-Book, the detailed interoperability specification for digital terrestrial TV in the UK published in early March, is intended to enable next-generation Freeview boxes to provide "Hybrid TV" services, including interactive streamed TV via a broadband connection.
The specification is also designed to allow four channels of HD content to be delivered over the new DVB-T2 transmission format, to start broadcasting this autumn, with products coming into the market in early 2010. HD DTT will be rolled out nationwide until the completion of UK TV digital switchover in 2012.
The Hybrid TV system is an extension of the interactive system based on MHEG-5 included in all Freeview and Freesat receivers. As well as interactive applications over the air, connected users will be able to download applications and content from suitable online services.