The gist of it: the successful conclusion of a phase I DVB project in Germany is likely to escalate progress towards a full launch.
The DVB-I Pilot Germany is an initiative conducted by a group of 21 stakeholders from the media industry. These include broadcasters, device manufacturers, software providers, and research institutions. The goal of the project was to develop a common understanding of the DVB-I standard’s technical features and to consider opportunities and challenges for the German TV market.
The DVB-I standard is aimed at enabling the continued straightforward use of linear TV programmes, even if the programmes aren’t exclusively distributed via traditional broadcast channels such as satellite, cable, and terrestrial. The standard is especially useful for offering TV viewing on a new, more flexible technological basis on TV sets, and it can also be implemented on streaming boxes, streaming sticks, or mobile devices.
The DVB-I standard provides a flexible distribution solution that can incorporate new technologies like Ultra-High Definition (UHD) and accessibility services. It also enables cost-effective solutions for smaller user groups with specific or regional content.
According to Advanced Television, the first phase of the project ran from September 2022 to March 2023 and was considered successful. It included the successful aggregation of service lists from the participating broadcasters into a central service list, among other achievements.
Following the success of the first phase, the stakeholders are recommending an additional Phase 2. This phase will focus on ironing out remaining issues before a possible market launch. These include organizing and aggregating further providers in the central service list, implementing DRM and authentication systems for subscription offers, expanding the availability of prototype devices, and evaluating new use cases and potential personalization concepts.
