HbbTV Association has released the latest update to its core specification.
The association has published HbbTV 2.0.5 which it says represents a “significant technical advancement for hybrid and interactive television services.”
As part of the upgrade, Digital Rights Management (DRM) has been integrated into the core specification for the first time, aiming to boost interoperability across the device ecosystem. Support for one of the DRM systems listed in the HbbTV DRM specification is required, either Microsoft PlayReady or Google Widevine, with the formalisation designed to enable secure content delivery to meet the needs of broadcasters, content owners, rights holders and platform operators.
WebAssembly support has also been formally included, enabling features such as efficient decoding of auxiliary video streams including sign language services. Support for the VVC and AV1 codecs has been defined and additional web security measures incorporated, said the organisation. The specification has been further streamlined with unused features removed, requirements relaxed and several simplifications introduced.
The integration between HbbTV and DVB-I has been improved with the specification now clarifying how DVB-I applications associated with entire service lists can be supported, enabling GDPR consent to be obtained or adherence to terms and conditions.
In the coming weeks, the association will issue a Request for Proposals to extend its Conformance Test Suite to support HbbTV 2.0.5.
Vincent Grivet, chair of the HbbTV Association, said, “HbbTV 2.0.5 represents an important step forward in the evolution of hybrid TV services. With formalised DRM, support for next-generation codecs such as AV1 and VVC, enhanced DVB-I integration, and WebAssembly capabilities, the specification aligns to the most recent and impacting market trends, enabling more sophisticated, secure and feature-rich services. It demonstrates HbbTV’s continued commitment to advancing the connected TV ecosystem for broadcasters, platform operators, content owners and viewers alike.”
