What They Say
The DVB Steering Board has approved a new and an updated specification. The update was to the DVB Targeted Advertising specification to include watermarking as an alternative way to signal where content can be inserted in a broadcast.
The new specification (DVB-HB/DVB Home Broadcast) allows client devices likes smartphones, tablets or HDMI dongles to access and consume broadcast content that has been re-transmitted over IP by a server located in the same local network. It can thus convert any IP-enabled device into a TV receiver, allowing it to receive services at broadcast quality.
Applications could also extend beyond the home into hospitality environments, hotels, Wi-Fi hotspots, etc. The solution is backwards-compatible with existing SAT>IP servers and clients and is designed to also be compatible with emerging DVB-I clients.
The development of verification & validation (V&V) materials is ongoing and the specification will be sent to ETSI for standardization upon completion of the package.
What We Think
The DVB-HB standard looks like a good way for broadcasters to distribute broadcast content. I always liked the SAT>IP concept and something similar is used by Sky in the UK for its Sky-Q service. However, SAT>IP uses a device on the LMB to convert from a satellite stream to IP. The DVB-HB work is part of the overall DVB-I ecosystem. (BR)
