DVB-I carries broadcasters to a new world beyond transponders

DVB-I gives broadcasters the option of delivering linear content over transponders, or via the internet with versatile content search capabilities. The source code, provided by GitHub account and developed in (paid) partnership with Sofia Digital, is released under the open source MIT licence. 

Emily Dubs, head of technology at the DVB, said: “The new specification takes an IP-first approach. However, we should not to say the DVB is shifting to IP-first because broadcast networks have far from disappeared and standards continue to evolve.The ultimate goal is combining the two. 

“Our members’ main focus is to build standards that will bridge the two worlds,” she added. 

This applies to pure OTT and hybrid use cases. “The DVB-I initiative is a suite of specifications that currently includes the service layer specification, DVB-DASH, DVB-mABR and DVB-TA, and stakeholders from the broadband sector, now DVB members, are also part of the DVB-I team,” said Dubs. 

She added that the targeted advertising spec for inserting spots is being expanded.  

Dubs next moved to issues around the burden of dedicated integration.  

“DVB-I removes the need for many independent apps, in which today the content is segregated, and that require to be provided, certified and maintained to support the vast range of devices and platforms,” she said. “Thus, it avoids those many expensive dedicated integrations.  

“It also gives broadcaster content offerings visibility, and it provides a user-friendly and consistent UI. This provides good visibility of the huge volumes of content available,” she added. “In the case of hybrid receivers, it offers a unified interface whatever the delivery means. This is something new for the broadband companies, and not only for broadcasters. Services delivered from both broadcast and broadband networks appear in a unified list.”