SERVICES
Where is DVB-I being implemented?
Here we provide information about DVB-I services. Currently the focus is on trials and pilots. If you are aware of a DVB-I service that should be included here, please let us know via using the form on the front page.
In our Video Library you can find links to videos of DVB-I demonstrations.
Launched Q4 2023, following Mediaset PoC.
For this real market trial of DVB-I, open to any entity meeting the basic requirements, the first compatible TVs, branded Telefunken, are commercially available.
Broadcasters or service providers that participate must be holders of an authorized DTT (digital terrestrial television) LCN (logical channel number) for Italy.
Manufacturers must have successfully passed validation process according to Interoperability Point 2 in DVB BlueBook A177r5 and “DVB-I Market Trial in Italy – Baseline Requirements”.
One of the important goals of this market trial is to sensitize the legislature with regard to the regulation of the delivery of television services via IP.
See also:
- Developing a DVB-I strategy for broadcasters in Italy – dvb.org
- La sperimentazione DVB-I di Mediaset è live. Ecco la prova del broadcasting via Internet e del primo TV compatibile (“Mediaset’s DVB-I trial is live. Here is the proof of Internet broadcasting and the first compatible TV”) – DDay.it
Background information
The market trial builds on the Mediaset-led proof of concept (PoC) that had been running since late 2019.
Mediaset began implementation of a DVB-I PoC to develop use cases for an end-to-end chain that complies fully with DVB-I and related standards. It was designed so that it could, in due course, evolve into a full commercial trial.
The PoC was managed by Mediaset, which also acted as a service provider. Over the course of the PoC, many Partners joined the activities, as illustrated below.
The above diagram shows:
- the end-to-end testbed developed to fully test the entire chain;
- the partners involved in the PoC;
- the use cases implemented.
In parallel with the PoC and in collaboration with colleagues involved in the German DVB-I Pilot, results of the tests formed the basis of updates to the DVB-I specification. The July 2023 edition of the spec, DVB BlueBook A177r5, introduced “Interoperability Point 2”, which allows different markets to have a clear reference, avoiding market fragmentation.
PoC Phase 2
In parallel with the market trial, in Q4 2023 Mediaset initiated Phase 2 of its PoC to:
- Test and profile new use cases;
- Provide further input into the evolution of standards in DVB and HbbTV;
- Provide new broadcasters and manufacturers interested in joining the Market Trial a valid test environment.
As for the original PoC, Phase 2 will be based on a flexible and proactive collaboration between all partners.
Contact
For more information on the Market Trial and the PoC Phase 2 contact Stefano Braghieri (stefano.braghieri@mediaset.it).
Updated: November 2023
Update (May 2023): Final report on Phase 1 published – English (PDF) – German (PDF)
See also: Major pilot of DVB-I launched in Germany
Objectives
The pilot is a limited duration collaboration to develop a common understanding of the DVB-I functionality as well as a standardized future scenario to include the complete DVB-I ecosystem. Participants are broadcasters, TV manufacturers and software companies. The pilot will be launched at IBC2022. The objectives include:
- Develop a common, standardized future scenario
- Demonstrate the potential of DVB-I
- Demonstrate a vision for a national market scenario
- Show technical cooperation between public service broadcasters and private broadcasters
- Elaborate on solutions for DRM and subscription-based services business models and technical solutions for private content providers or platform operators
- Identify technical gaps and requirements in the DVB-I standard
- Gather experience with aggregation of service lists
- Pave the way for a potential launch of DVB-I Services in Germany
- Validate the user experience
Target market
Germany
Pilot architecture and features
- HbbTV is an integral part of our services today. DVB-I enables the integration of the entire HbbTV ecosystem with all services and accessibility features.
- Solutions for DRM and subscription-based services in DVB-I service lists are demonstrated.
- Extra available event channels can be added to the service list dynamically for the event duration.
- Regionally different channel sorting can be offered on the basis of region-specific LCN tables. This way the viewer can be offered the locally appropriate channel as well as other locally relevant channels in prominent programme positions. The region selection can be made – if supported by the unit – by postcode entry or direct selection in the menu.
- The EPG with link to the media libraries enables convenient and direct access to Video on Demand for missed, catch-up and pre-released programmes.
- Playlists as channels combine videos from a genre such as news or curated formats such as Terra-X or WDR Retro into a linear service. It is also possible to navigate freely in the playlist.
- Same as in the satellite bouquet, we also provide radio in DVB-I. The channels are enriched with informative VisualRadio applications for the big screen.
- The pilot demonstrates a unified service list for the German market, as it could also be specified by a regulator.
Other features of the pilot
- Hybrid services with DVB broadcast and MPEG-DASH, low latency HEVC streaming
- Instance prioritization and fallback switching
- Next Generation Audio / AC4
- Service list aggregation & discovery via the Central Service Registry (CSR)
Receivers/clients
Official DVB-I reference application (developed by Sofia Digital), plus clients from Fraunhofer FOKUS, LG Electronics, OnScreen Publishing, SONY, TARA Systems, TP Vision (Philips) .
The DVB-I service lists are generated by MIT-xperts iSIMS SI/PSI server or manually. The national list is provided by an aggregator service from MIT-xperts. The terminals determine the correct list via the DVB reference CSR.
Future plans
Public available clients, user tests, extension of the service list with additional radio services and apps; general improvements; continued engagement with DVB CM-I, particularly around audio streaming.
Contact
For more information on the pilot contact Remo Vogel (dvb-i@rbb-online.de).
Updated: May 2023
Saorview DVB-I Proof of Concept
Saorview is the national DTT platform in Ireland, owned and managed by the public broadcaster RTÉ. Since early 2023, RTÉ has been running a proof of concept based on DVB-I, leveraging the reference application developed by Sofia Digital on behalf of the DVB Project.
Aims
- Develop a next-generation platform strategy for Saorview
- Meet audiences where they are (including on smartphones and tablets)
- Leverage the increase in IP-based content distribution
- Address future risks to DTT (potential reduction in available UHF spectrum)
- Consider regulatory implications (e.g. around service prominence for public service media
Features demonstrated
- Presentation of linear channels delivered over terrestrial and satellite broadcast and delivered via IP
- Fallback from IP to broadcast and vice-versa if the network currently being used fails
- Presentation of the RTÉ Player at its own spot in the EPG, allowing users to directly open the app from the EPG and play on-demand content
- Presentation of radio stations from both DVB-T and IP
- Display of simple EPG plus channel logos delivered over IP
- Extending LCN (logical channel number) listings beyond those carried in DTT
Next steps
RTÉ is monitoring the ongoing DVB-I trials and continuing engagement with device manufacturers. Engagement locally with the Irish regulatory bodies and more widely with the DVB-I community will allow RTÉ to work towards a possible small-scale pilot, adding some user testing.
See: EBU webinar presentation by Jim Higgins, RTÉ (May 2023)
Updated: June 2023
In April 2023, the Spanish public broadcaster RTVE and the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) undertook a public test of DVB-I under the auspices of the RTVE Chair at UPM.
A live event featured the first pilot of RTVE channels delivered using DVB-I linked to a digital terrestrial television (DTT) broadcast. The event included a demonstration of the channel tuning procedure.
Other companies contributing to the initiative included Cellnex Telecom, Dolby, Sapec and the Televés Corporation, all of whom are on the advisory committee of the RTVE Chair at UPM. Receivers for the tests were supplied by Vestel, who provided development software with new DVB-I support running on current range of their production TV sets.
The pilot also made use of the DVB-I reference application to generate the service lists.
DVB-I signalled over DTT
For the event, a custom DTT multiplex was created by UPM engineers and broadcast in the local area on a temporary channel. The multiplex included a link to the DVB-I service list in the DTT service information tables, and the channels were automatically available to the user by simply pressing the EPG button on the remote control. It is believed that this was the first time a DVB-I service list had been signalled over the air in this way.
The test was built around the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament, which was being broadcast on the tdp HD channel as a single feed. Thanks to DVB-I, users were able to select the coverage of any of the seven tennis courts through additional channels, allowing any match to be chosen without the use of an app. The user was shown eleven channels (four DTT plus seven delivered via the internet) through which they could navigate.
Find more information (in Spanish) on the RTVE website.
Updated: May 2023
IRIB R&D develops innovative new products and technologies in broadcasting and broadband delivery, laying the groundwork for future services from IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting).
The testing of DVB-I in the IRIB R&D laboratory began in March 2020. The goal of the pilot was the evaluation of DVB-I with regard to its feasibility and the potential benefits for IRIB. The pilot was completed in October 2020.
You can find more information about this pilot in the articles below:
- Issue 288 of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union Technical Review (Oct-Dec 2021) (PDF)
- Issue 56 of DVB Scene (Sep 2020) (PDF)
Target market:
The pilot was available in the Tehran area. The user interface was in the Persian language.
Service lists and services:
IRIB created its own service list registry, within which was the service list used for this pilot. The service list contained 60 service instances, some as DVB-T, some as DVB-DASH and some with both types of delivery. MPEG-4 video coding was used.
Receivers/clients:
The trial was based on the official DVB-I reference application (developed by Sofia Digital). HbbTV receivers and Android TVs and smartphones were used.
Future plans:
Integrating all IRIB DVB-T/T2 and OTT services into the DVB-I service list and adding the client to the main IRIB HbbTV launcher. Also under study is the use of DVB-I for service discovery in 5G.