More than 20 EBU members – major public broadcasters – have agreed to collaborate on a programme to realise the full potential of hybrid television, in preparation for a European rollout in 2012. Hybrid, or ‘connected’, television combines traditional broadcast viewing with content delivered over the internet, together with smart applications for a broader, enhanced media experience.
The grouping of public service broadcasters will work together to exchange best practices and support each other to push through a fast, comprehensive rollout of hybrid television services in 2012. Underpinning the cooperation is the shared conviction that only high quality, creative content can breathe life into the promise of hybrid technology, and only a flexible, cross-border approach will create the necessary impetus.
In signing up to the hybrid TV project, these broadcasters make a commitment both to open standards, like HbbTV, MHP and MHEG5, and to delivering a compelling new experience to their audiences. The EBU will host a creative content workshop on 3 February 2012 to enable broadcasters to share experiences and ideas for hybrid applications. Growing out of it, a new interactive group of creative experts from EBU member organisations will oversee the sustainable exchange of ideas and innovation.
The 20 broadcasters are ARMTV (Armenia), ORF (Austria), RTBF (Belgium), HRT (Croatia), CyBC (Cyprus), Czech TV, DR (Denmark), YLE (Finland), France Télévisions, ARD and ZDF (Germany), MTV Magyar Radio (Hungary), RTE (Ireland). RAI (Italy), RTCG (Montenegro), NPO (Netherlands), NRK (Norway), TVP (Poland), TVR (Romania), Rozhlas (Slovakia), RTVSLO (Slovenia), RTVE (Spain), TRT (Turkey) and NTU (Ukraine).
