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Television

The HbbTV Association's Decision on the Service List Registry

2024-11-14

The HbbTV Association has taken a significant step by appointing the Service List Registry to manage the registry platform. This move is set to revolutionize HbbTV Application Discovery over Broadband. HbbTV, an open specification based on web standards, has gained significant popularity across Europe, with nearly a hundred million households having HbbTV-supported televisions. It provides an advanced television application execution environment and enables various services. One of the key benefits is that it allows compatible televisions connected to the internet to access and launch applications even without broadcast service information, including those connected through an HDMI input. This approach to discovery is not only useful for regular TV services but also for targeted advertising, extending the reach to a wider audience. Vincent Grivet, Chairman of the HbbTV Association, emphasized that "HbbTV Application Discovery over Broadband further expands the reach of HbbTV applications and services." The Service List Registry, with its global platform for audiovisual media service discovery, will play a crucial role. Chief Executive Dr William Cooper commented that "Our registry enables media to be connected to applications using highly scalable internet technology, opening up new opportunities for media providers. They can simply register a code that uniquely identifies their media and link it to an interactive application." Applications for new registrations from media and service providers will commence at the start of 2025, marking a new era in HbbTV application discovery.

Benefits of HbbTV Application Discovery over Broadband

HbbTV Application Discovery over Broadband offers several distinct advantages. Firstly, it provides seamless access to applications for compatible televisions even in the absence of broadcast service information. This means that viewers can enjoy a wide range of interactive applications without being limited by traditional broadcast channels. Secondly, it enables targeted advertising, allowing media providers to reach a more specific audience. By identifying viewers based on their service consumption patterns, advertisers can deliver more relevant ads, increasing the effectiveness of advertising campaigns. Additionally, the use of highly scalable internet technology in the registry ensures that the system can handle a large number of registrations and queries, providing a reliable and efficient service. This scalability is essential for the growth and development of HbbTV applications and services.

The ability of HbbTV Application Discovery over Broadband to connect media to applications opens up new possibilities for media providers. They can now offer a more interactive and engaging viewing experience by integrating their media with interactive applications. This not only enhances the user experience but also provides additional revenue streams through advertising and other monetization models. The global reach of the Service List Registry ensures that media providers can reach audiences across different regions and countries, further expanding their market potential.

The Role of the Service List Registry

The Service List Registry plays a vital role in the HbbTV ecosystem. It acts as a central hub for the discovery of audiovisual media services, providing a platform for media providers to register their codes and link them to interactive applications. This registration process is simple and straightforward, allowing media providers to quickly and easily integrate their media into the HbbTV ecosystem. The registry also ensures the accuracy and reliability of the service list, enabling televisions to resolve unique identifiers carried in media streams to the correct online addresses. This seamless resolution process is crucial for the smooth operation of HbbTV applications and services.

In addition to its registration and resolution functions, the Service List Registry also provides support for the deployment of new application discovery methods. As Vincent Grivet mentioned, this additional method of application discovery will further expand the reach of HbbTV applications and services. The registry will work closely with media and service providers to ensure the successful implementation of these new methods and to provide the necessary technical support and guidance.

Future Prospects of HbbTV Application Discovery

The appointment of the Service List Registry marks an important milestone in the development of HbbTV Application Discovery over Broadband. With the opening of applications for new registrations in 2025, we can expect to see a significant growth in the number of HbbTV applications and services. This growth will be driven by the increasing demand for interactive and personalized television experiences, as well as the expanding market for targeted advertising. As more media providers and service providers join the HbbTV ecosystem, the platform will become more diverse and rich, offering a wider range of applications and services to viewers.

The global reach of HbbTV and the Service List Registry also presents opportunities for international collaboration and cooperation. Media providers and service providers from different countries can work together to share best practices and develop new applications and services. This international collaboration will help to accelerate the growth of HbbTV and make it a global standard for television application execution. In conclusion, the appointment of the Service List Registry is a significant step forward for HbbTV Application Discovery over Broadband, and we can look forward to a bright future for this technology.