Wishing for a hybrid system that lets you catch up on your favourite TV shows on your TV, rather than on your laptop or PC? Wish no more …
The latest version of an ETSI standard has just been published for the MHEG-5 television middleware system. Although standards are released and updated regularly, this version release has particular significance for New Zealand Television Broadcasters and viewers, and probably ISPs as well.
MHEG-5 is the ‘middleware’ application that sits inside the New Zealand Freeview systems that currently delivers the Electronic Program Guide (EPG) across the terrestrial (DTT) and satellite (DTH) platforms when you press the ‘EPG’ button.
It is a powerful software application that can launch/manage a range of other applications on the Freeview TV receivers. The new release includes support for an internet protocol Interaction Channel.
What this means is that as well as providing over-the-air TV linear TV channels on the Freeview broadcast platforms in New Zealand, broadcasters will be able to incorporate broadband or IPTV services into their overall service offerings.
Plus (and to me this is the key), they’ll be able to make them all seamlessly available o the lounge room television set! All with the use of the remote control and with the aid of the broadband port on the back of the receivers connected to your Internet service.
The great thing is that this sort of hybrid system gives broadcasters the capability to make all their catch-up TV services – and any other new services they might launch – available on your TV set. No longer will you need to use the laptop or PC in the study to catch up on your favourite shows.
Freeview New Zealand is planning to release an updated DTT transmission specification to manufactures to implement the MHEG Interaction channel for 2011 DTT iDTV’s, MyFreeview|HD DTR’s and as an optional extra for stand alone Freeview|HD digital receivers.
You’ll find more information here.
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