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This website provides information and resources for those who are interested in learning about or using DVB-I, a specification developed by the DVB Project and published as a standard by ETSI.

In simple terms, DVB-I is an internet-centric mechanism to signal and discover television services, whether delivered over broadband or broadcast. DVB-I enables those services to be presented in a unified manner on any connected device – from TV sets to personal consumer devices.

For broadcasters, in particular, DVB-I enables the creation of a next-generation free-to-air experience, including a network-agnostic programme guide that can help transition linear-centric viewers into streaming (whether in IP-only homes or during broadcast switch-offs). Streaming can be used for channel-level innovation like UHD, next-gen audio, pop-up and thematic channels, etc.

See the DVB-I Timeline for an overview of how the specification has developed and progress with service deployments.

What can DVB-I do for you?

Faced with evolving viewing habits, competition from streaming services and spectrum constraints, with DVB-I you can leverage the strengths of both broadcast and broadband delivery within a single hybrid service offering targeting both fixed and mobile devices.

Looking ahead, DVB-I will make it possible for you to seamlessly migrate to make use of new broadband mechanisms such as 5G Media Streaming or even 5G Broadcast. DVB-I means broadcasters don’t need to gamble on which delivery technologies will emerge, but they can take advantage of those that do.

Use DVB-I to automatically provide a reliable broadband-based fallback service when bad weather interrupts reception or to provide regional services over broadband, at specific times of day, to complement national services delivered by satellite, and all within a single hybrid service offering.

DVB-I enables cable operators to easily deploy a hybrid service offering – it means you don’t need to gamble on which delivery technologies will emerge and can take advantage of those that do. It makes it possible to undertake seamless technology migrations, for example combining DVB-C with new cable broadband technologies like DOCSIS 4.0 for delivery, and also to extend your service to mobile devices via Wi-Fi and 5G.

OTT services typically require dedicated client apps, each with its own specific user experience. Rather than forcing users to learn and switch between different user experiences and apps to find and view content, DVB-I enables devices to integrate live and linear services, as well as on-demand content into a consistent device-native user experience.

DVB-I enables IPTV operators to easily integrate managed and OTT network service offerings and to aggregate channels from various providers. DVB-I metadata can be used to create bespoke service lists for subscribers containing any combinations of linear and OTT content as well as combining diverse service offerings into a coherent service list UI with rich features such as EPG and user customization.