D-Book 11 defines UK TV requirements
October 31, 2018
By Colin Mann
The DTG, the UK’s collaboration centre for innovation in digital media technology, has published its D-Book 11, the only universally deployed technical standard for TV and DTT in the UK. The D-Book is updated annually with the collaboration of industry, underpinning Freeview, YouView, Freesat, EE TV, BT TV and TalkTalk TV.
D-Book 11 changes and updates include:
- RF test process update – As the 700MHz clearance project continues, the RF test process has been updated to test LTE co-existence performance in the 700MHz band instead of the 800MHz band. This will ensure that TVs are ready for the arrival of 5G mobile services in the coming years. Some test points that are no longer relevant due to the way modern receivers are built have also been removed.
- HEVC, HDR and HFR requirements – While there are no published plans for the introduction of broadcast services to exploit HEVC, HDR and HFR, many TVs support them. D-Book 11 provides requirements for implementation where receivers support the technologies for broadcast. This is backed up by test coverage in the DTG Testing test suite. The aim of this is to prepare a large portion of installed receivers for a potential future service introduction.
- Alignment with HbbTV 2.0.2 and DVB-DASH – Since the publication of D-Book 10, there have been several key updates published in the specifications backing D-Book (including HbbTV 2.0.2 and DVB DASH), and as a result, parts of the HbbTV requirements have been removed and are now aligned with published specifications.
- Removal of Standard Definition device profiles – Freeview withdrew its logo from Standard Definition (SD) TVs and set-top boxes in January 2017. Therefore the two SD TV device profiles for receivers and recorders have been removed, leaving only HD device profiles.
“DTG has been specifying every television in the market for more than two decades, ensuring viewers enjoy a world-class experience,” noted Richard Lindsay-Davies, CEO of the DTG. “The pace of change and complexity for our industry increases every year, with PSB prominence and new technologies being discussed in Parliament. It is now more important than ever that industry collaborates to sustain the delivery of cutting technology with the levels of performance, quality, resilience and universality they expect from UK television. Bridging the old with the new and delivering a world-leading television experience for consumers wherever they are, on whatever device”
“In an increasingly complex market, the Freeview trademarks continue to provide consumers with the reassurance that they are purchasing a high-quality product,” added Guy North, Managing Director, Freeview. “The D-Book ensures that all devices conforming to the new specification, and that carry the Freeview brand, will deliver consumers the very best viewing experience.”