TDF first end-to-end HbbTV platform
September 10, 2012
Nick Snow @ IBC
TDF Media Services, the TDF business unit dedicated to providing innovative solutions for the
media industry, has announced the launch of the first end-to-end HbbTV platform.
This comprehensive brand new platform for broadcasters and media companies is able to
support any kind of video-based hybrid TV services. Thanks to the HbbTV technologies, it is
now possible to enrich a live broadcast stream with additional internet content delivered directly
through the TV set.
This platform enables to build a large diversity of services and business models, ranging from
free to pay including ad-based for services such as interactive advertising, event channels,
video-on-demand, catchup TV, voting, etc.
The platform is compatible with HbbTV1.1 and HbbTV1.5 and supports both Marlin and
Microsoft Playready DRMs. It also provides a full end-to-end solution, including – among other
features – metadata management, video processing, content monetization. Content Delivery
Network provided by SmartJog enables a smooth and very high quality video streaming to all
connected devices including HbbTV connected TV sets.
Other advanced features have been integrated to enrich the end-user experience, such as a
recommendation engine provided by French technology company Cognik, an artificial
intelligence engine which selects and proposes relevant content to a specific user.
The new services supported by the platform will drive new audiences by enhancing the enduser
experience.
France Televisions, the French public broadcaster, was one of the first to leverage on TDF
HbbTV platform to deploy a complete end-to-end restart service called ‘Salto”. This service,
launched July 3rd enables a TV viewer to instantly come back to the beginning of the on-going
live program, and it is available on each of the 5 channels of the group. Other implementations
will be launched in France with some major DTT channels before the end of the year.
As a next step in the deployment of HbbTV services in Europe, TDF Media Services will also
support Media Broadcast in the upcoming launch of Hybrid Interactive TV in Germany. TDF
Media Services will also implement an end-to-end solution in Russia for the Russian broadcast
network operator RTRS.
TDF Media Services is demonstrating the HbbTV platform at IBC Amsterdam – TDF Stand
No. 1.B79