South Africa selects MHEG-5 for switchover

IMPALA, the International MHEG Promotion Alliance, has announced that South Africa – via its Digital Dzonga Advisory Council – has selected MHEG-5 as the interactive TV middleware for its digital switchover.

Following on from a successful DTT trial that began last year, the SABC, South Africa's public broadcaster, led the process of developing a MHEG-5 profile for South Africa to meet some of the unique needs of the South African market. The South African MHEG-5 profile has now been finalised and can be obtained from SABC while the overall receiver specifications are now also being completed. The MHEG specification includes a platform-wide EPG that will allow consistent listings and onscreen branding.