Please read the White Paper Copyright Notice

Download
WHP019 527 Kb

BBC R&D White Paper WHP019

Delivering Interactive DTV services to multiple target platforms
R. Bradbury, R. Cartwright and T. Steele

Keywords
digital television, DVB, MHP, Internet Access profile

Abstract
The mature MPEG specifications for digital video and audio ensure the availability of interoperable equipment that simplifies the task of creating broadcast content in a cost-effective way. In contrast, no single technology has emerged as the common standard for multimedia services. Whilst many content providers have achieved the launch of bespoke multimedia services for the deployed target platforms, authoring multiple times is not a cost-effective long-term solution.

Initiatives such as DVB's MHP and ATSC's DASE are attempting to solve this problem by establishing multimedia standards for DTV. Regardless of their outcome, a legacy of already-deployed technologies will exist for delivery platforms that are either unable or unwilling to migrate. This paper describes the BBC's views on authoring and delivering interactive services to deployed target platforms. The views are formed from experience of the UK market, which has required an understanding of technologies as diverse as MHEG-5, OpenTV and Liberate.

This document was originally published in the Conference Publication of the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC 2001) Amsterdam, 13-18 September 2001.