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Home»What is HbbTV?

What is HbbTV?


HbbTV is Hybrid Broadcast Broadband television. It is a method of combining traditional linear TV with extra information, interactive streams and catch-up TV.

With HbbTV, broadcasts can deliver extra services via their broadcast services, including:

  • Enhanced teletext-style news and information
  • Access to on-demand programme libraries.
  • Interactive streams providing additional content or options to play along with quizzes.

HbbTV has grown in popularity, especially in countries where traditional teletext services are still going strong. Broadcasters and viewers are making the step straight from traditional teletext to HbbTV.

In the UK, HbbTV adoption is being driven by the BBC and the platforms it has a shareholding in: Freeview and Freesat.  The UK is late to the party, with the BBC having pushed MHEG5 for much of the last 20 years as a replacement for traditional teletext.

You can find out more about HbbTV at www.hbbtv.org.

How else can HbbTV be used?

An advantage of HbbTV is that broadcasters can deliver access to their catch-up/on-demand services to viewers without the broadcaster having to sign up with multiple manufacturers and platform operators to ensure the app is available. So for example, public broadcasters in Germany, Spain, Poland and Czech Republic make extra content available via their HbbTV app, triggered by pressing the red button. All the viewer needs is a HbbTV compatible TV, broadband connection and reception of the channel to access the app.

One notable exception is Sky, who doesn’t offer HbbTV support on Sky Q in most countries, even though the boxes are compatible. The UK is the exception. Here, following an agreement between the BBC and Sky in November 2019, HbbTV support was activated through a software update. This allows access to BBC iPlayer through the BBC HbbTV red button+ service.

Usage in the UK

In the UK, only BBC channels carry an HbbTV flag – here the BBC uses it to allow users to access content from the BBC iPlayer apps. In the future it wants to use it to deliver content substitution (i.e. potentially inserting regional news on HD).

Elsewhere, take-up of HbbTV is led by platform operators, including Freeview. Freeview offers a HbbTV based Freeview Accessible Programme Guide (channel 555) and an on-demand portal (channel 100).

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RXTV info: Covering the reception and distribution of UK terrestrial TV (Freeview), cable, satellite and connected TV services for users and installers.

Freeview changes

25th January 2023

  • Channel 92 | Together TV+1 has moved multiplexes from COM5/ArqA to COM6/ArqB. The service broadcasts from 0500-0800 via linear TV. At other times, the service streams via the internet on compatible connected devices.

Other Freeview channel updates…

Satellite

BBC HD satellite changes:

Sky customers should contact Sky if they have any questions about their service.

  • BBC Alba HD begins testing by 2nd February. Launch 6th February (Freesat), 7th February (Sky).
  • BBC One E Yorks and Lincolnshire HD begins testing by 2nd February. Launch 6th February (Freesat), 7th February (Sky).
  • BBC One West Midlands HD begins testing by 2nd February. Launch 6th February (Freesat), 7th February (Sky).
  • BBC One Wales SD and BBC Two Wales SD close during week commencing 6th Feb.

Regional timetable…

Latest updates: HDsatelliteupgrade.co.uk

 

  • Astra 2G, 28.2°E 11171 H (SR 22000, FEC 5/6, DVB-S, QPSK) Wild Earth HD (testing)
  • Astra 2E, 28.5°E 12422 H (SR27500, FEC 2/3, DVB-S, QPSK) BBC national SD services are moving to this transponder.
  • Sky channel 793: Iran International is no longer broadcasting via Sky.

Saorview: Irish DTT  | How to manually tune your Sky box | Sky Glass channel list |  UHF channels and centre frequencies

 

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