DVB-I UI Competition
DVB is launching a global competition to discover the most innovative, visually compelling, and user-friendly DVB-I clients and applications. This is your chance to influence how audiences around the world interact with next-generation TV services across multiple devices.
Whether you’re a student, an independent developer, a startup, a research team, or an established organization, this is an opportunity to bring your creative vision to life and win your share of €17,000 in cash prizes.
(FAQ below)
Why this competition?
DVB-I enables broadcasters and service providers to deliver television services over the internet using open standards. While many have demonstrated the technical capabilities of DVB-I, this competition shifts the spotlight to the end-user experience.
We’re seeking clients and applications that:
- Provide a seamless and attractive UI.
- Push the boundaries of media interaction.
- Work across TVs, mobile devices, desktops, cars, and more.
What we’re looking for
We’re looking for any kind of user interface that showcases the power and flexibility of DVB-I. Your entry can take the form of a traditional visual interface or something more experimental – voice-driven, gesture-controlled, AI-personalized, or multiscreen. As long as it’s driven by DVB-I and enhances how users discover and enjoy content, it’s eligible.
Examples of potential UI implementations include (but are not limited to):
- Native smart TV applications (e.g. Roku, Tizen, WebOS)
- Mobile applications (Android or iOS)
- HbbTV applications
- Responsive or progressive web apps (for desktop and mobile browsers)
- Automotive interfaces (e.g. Android Auto, Apple CarPlay)
- Voice or screen reader-based experiences
All entries must:
- Operate using a dynamic DVB-I service list.
- Let users browse services, view programme guides, and play audio/video.
- Include a walk-through video to demonstrate functionality to the judges.
- Be available for DVB to showcase globally throughout 2026.
While we are looking for high quality television user interfaces, we also encourage entrants to move beyond conventional television UIs and explore new ways to interact with content, whether via smart speakers, wearable devices, or second screens. Accessibility, cross-platform compatibility, and innovative design will be highly valued.
Submissions may include proof-of-concept or production-ready apps. An entrant can make multiple submissions.
The entries must work with the competition central service list repository (CSR) and will be judged using it. If an entrant wants to demonstrate their UI with a specific service list, this can be added to the competition CSR, but will be available to all other entrants.
Timeline
- Competition launch: 28 May 2025
- Webinar & participant support: TBC – June 2025
- Expression of interest deadline: 30 June 2025
- Entry submission opens: 1 September 2025
- Submission deadline: 31 October 2025
- Judging period: November 2025
- Winners announced: Mid December 2025
- Prize giving: March 2026 at DVB World
Prizes
- 1st prize – €10,000
- 2nd prize – €5,000
- 3rd prize – €2,000
Top entries will be showcased by DVB throughout 2026 at major industry events including IBC and DVB World.
How to enter
A full competition entry form will be made available shortly. In the meantime please complete the expression of interest form.
Submitting an Expression of Interest is not mandatory, but it gives you early visibility into competition updates and helps DVB plan for potential previews at IBC 2025.
Support for entrants
We want to make it as easy as possible for developers and designers of all backgrounds to participate in the DVB-I UI Competition. To support you throughout the process, DVB will provide the following resources:
Technical resources
- DVB-I Central Service List Registry (CSR): A dedicated endpoint will be available at https://competition-csr.dv-i.tv/api/query to access DVB-I service lists for development and testing, including live and trial datasets from around the world. Details of the available service lists are given in the FAQ below.
- DVB-I Reference Application: An open-source HTML-based DVB-I reference client is available from GitHub to help you understand and work with DVB-I service data. You may use as much or as little of it as you wish.
Webinars & guidance
- Informational webinar(s): We will host one or more webinars to explain the competition in detail, demonstrate available tools, and answer questions.
- Documentation & FAQs: Clear documentation and frequently asked questions will be published to help you get started and troubleshoot common issues.
Community & direct support
- Dedicated email support : Participants can reach out via a dedicated email address (competition@dvb-i.tv) for competition-related queries. DVB will aim to respond promptly and may share general answers with all entrants (without breaching confidentiality).
Please note: while DVB will offer general assistance and resources, any specialized technical development or integration support is the responsibility of the entrant.
Judging criteria
Entries will be assessed on:
- User experience & usability (20%)
- Accessibility (20%)
- Usage of the DVB-I specification (20%)
- Innovation (20%)
- Design & visual appeal (20%)
More detail in the FAQ below.
The judging panel will be announced later in the year and will include UI experts, industry analysts, and independent media commentators.
Next steps
Submit your Expression of Interest now to let us know you’re planning to enter. This helps us gauge interest and coordinate support.
- Join our upcoming support webinar (details coming soon).
- Review the available datasets and reference tools.
- Begin development and prepare your entry for submission from 1 September 2025.
- Final deadline for entries: 31 October 2025 at 23:00 CET.
Let’s build the future of DVB-I together.