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(Find more detailed information about DVB-I further down this page.)

In simple terms, DVB-I is a technical specification for an internet-centric way to signal and discover television services, whether they are 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.

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.

DVB-I in more detail

See also our DVB-I Timeline.

DVB-I is an open specification for Service Discovery and Programme Metadata developed by the DVB Project.

The DVB-I specification defines ways in which devices and displays connected to the internet can discover and access sets of audiovisual media services. These can include services delivered online through fixed and wireless Internet Protocol connections as well as broadcast radio and television channels received over radio frequency networks using traditional cable, satellite, or terrestrial transmissions.

DVB-I defines an online request and response mechanism by which available audiovisual media services can be discovered through a service list registry. The specification defines the schema and signalling to describe an ordered service list of audiovisual media services, with provision for logical channel numbers and service logos, together with technical parameters by which one or more instances of a service can be accessed over various networks.

It also defines methods and metadata to enable online access to programme information for channel schedules and programme catalogues that can be presented in electronic programme guides (EPGs). This allows services to accessed in a coherent and consistent way over diverse networks. Support for regulated service lists provides a method for national regulators or their representatives, operators and trademark licensors to offer a list of trusted, legitimate, authorized, or regulated services.

As an open standard, based on HTTPS and XML, DVB-I can be freely implemented in any application, device, or display, enabling a competitive consumer market. It doesn’t impose any form of presentation on how the information provided is rendered by the client. This may be supported directly by the software operating environment, a native application, or within a web browser.

The HbbTV standard for hybrid broadcast broadband television has been extended to provide full support for DVB-I. Media services can be accessed using various established standards, including the DVB suite of specifications for satellite, cable, and terrestrial transmission, and DVB-DASH for online delivery using adaptive bitrate streaming.

Technical description

Client

A DVB-I client may be integrated into the user interface of a device such as a television or set-top box or may be part of an application on devices such as a mobile phone or tablet.

Service

A DVB-I service is any service which may be discovered using the mechanisms defined in the specification, available using one or more delivery systems including DVB-DASH and traditional DVB cable, satellite, or terrestrial transmissions. A service may be received by devices without a broadcast tuner or coaxial connection, including mobile devices, or on devices with a traditional DVB-C/S/T/IPTV receiver or using SAT>IP. A service may only be accessible under certain conditions, such as location, rating restrictions, conditional access, or subscription package. It may be linear or on-demand, and may include audio, video, subtitle, or access components, and may have linked applications.

Service instance

A DVB-I service instance refers to the delivery of a DVB-I service using a single delivery mechanism and provides related information to enable it to be accessed by a DVB-I client.

Service list

A DVB-I service list may list services from one or more content providers. A service list provider may manage the service list and provide service ordering and numbering information. The service list may be targeted at a particular platform brand, geographic region, language, or genre. Clients marketed under a particular platform brand may use a single service list for that platform. Clients may offer a selection of service lists and present the user with a view of services from only one service at any one time. Alternatively, clients may combine several service lists and present them, with or without filtering options.

Service list registry

A DVB-I service list registry provides a DVB-I client with a list of one or more service list servers in response to a request that may include query parameters. A service list registry provides an HTTP endpoint at a known URL and in response to a request query returns a list of service entry points. A service list registry may be operated by or on behalf of various kinds of organizations, such as device manufacturers, national or regional regulators, an operator or platform brand, third-party service list aggregators, or as a central service list registry for all compatible clients, providing information on a wide set of service lists.

Service list server

One or more servers may deliver a service list to a DVB-I client. A service list server may aggregate service list fragments from multiple content or service providers.

Content guide server

One or more servers may respond to requests from a DVB-I client for content guide data. The content guide server or servers for an individual service are referenced in the service list entry for that service.

Stream server

One or more servers may be involved in the delivery of audiovisual streams, including a playlist server, an MPD server providing the media presentation description for DVB-DASH services, and a stream server, including multicast gateways, that deliver DASH media segments to a DVB-I client.