Press Release from IMPALA
IMPALA, the International MHEG Promotion Alliance, has welcomed the announcement from Freeview Australia that it has commenced broadcasting its platform-wide EPG, powered by MHEG. The announcement from Freeview describes it as a “key milestone in the development of free digital TV in Australia”.
The EPG provides a consistent experience across the Freeview platform, which brings together all the channels from the country’s free-to-air broadcasters. The new Freeview Australia EPG removes the constraints created by lack of cross-carriage of existing EPG data between networks and manufacturer-specific programme guides, allowing a significant increase in usability and functionality for viewers.
The new service collates programme data from all networks for simultaneous transmission in a consistent format by all broadcasters. The MHEG application allows viewers to continue watching TV while using the EPG. From July, all STBs, PVRs and integrated digital TVs that conform to Freeview Australia’s specification will feature the new Freeview EPG logo.
In addition to the platform EPG, the Freeview Australia MHEG country profile also supports HD as well as the hybrid MHEG Interaction Channel. The IP-based MHEG Interaction Channel enables hybrid broadcast broadband receiver operation via an IP connection – already being used by Freesat in the UK for catch-up TV services including the BBC iPlayer.
Freeview Australia is owned by ABC, SBS, Nine, Seven, Ten, Prime, Southern Cross and Win. Freeview-branded product conforming to the published standards is available from July through retail chains.
Bob Lamb, MD of Cabot Communications and Founder Member of IMPALA, says, “MHEG has facilitated a significant step forwards for Freeview Australia, both in terms of what it allows the viewer to do and in terms of extending the brand. With the MHEG-IC specified there is huge potential for further services to be delivered, providing a strong development path for the platform.”
The founder members of IMPALA are Strategy & Technology (S&T), Cabot Communications and Echostar Europe.