Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB), the European industry consortium behind technical standards, is moving forward on an initiative to investigate commercial requirements for standalone linear TV services that are delivered over the internet.
The DVB-I (internet) initiative aims to complement DVB-S/C/T standards and managed IPTV services that are tied to service over dedicated access networks. DVB-I will also look to borrow commonalities with existing DVB specifications.
Thomas Stockhammer of Qualcomm Technologies is chairing the DVB CM-I group, and Peter Lanigan of TP Vision is on board as vice chair.
The initial focus of CM-I will be to collect relevant commercial and technical requirements “in order to provide a user perception of a linear TV channel that can be discovered and consumed over the open Internet and by regular TV equipment and user interfaces.”
“With hybrid services, OTT and online distribution growing in importance, DVB is applying its expertise and know-how in this all-important domain,” said Peter MacAvock, DVB chairman. “DVB-I will complement the current DVB standards that form the basis of the way consumers watch TV today.”