IMPALA WELCOMES MHEG-5 IN S. A. DTT TRIAL
February 2, 2009
IMPALA, the International MHEG Promotion Alliance, is pleased to confirm the inclusion of MHEG-5, the globally successful interactive TV middleware, as a key part of the recently started DTT trial in South Africa.
Lara Kantor, Chairperson of The Digital Dzonga Advisory Council – set up to advise and oversee the process of migrating South Africa's analogue system to digital – says, "Subject to successful testing and development of the profile to meet the needs of the South African market, it is our intention to use MHEG for DTT in SA." Currently a group brought together by the free-to-air broadcasters running the DTT trial is working on the specification of a suitable MHEG Profile for the market. A commercial launch is planned for later this year.
At the launch of the trial Gab Mampone, Acting Group Executive of SABC, said, "This is an exciting time for South African TV viewers and the SABC is playing a leading role in the trial broadcast. The trial is an important milestone in the process of switching South African television viewers over to digital and is a critical phase in the in preparation for making DTT services available to the public."
The founder members of IMPALA are Strategy & Technology (S&T), Cabot Communications and EchoStar Europe.