Strategy & Technology IBC 2009 Preview Document

IBC 2009 marks the launch of S&T’s MHEG Presenter 2 product suite, which builds on the existing support for digital teletext and other information services with new modules for Video on Demand (VoD).

 

The system also supports both IP-connected CI Plus (CI+) modules, as well as hybrid IP/broadcast receivers with content being delivered via IP and/or broadcast. S&T will demonstrate a CI+ Video on Demand (VoD) solution with Tandberg Television (part of the Ericsson Group) and Neotion that enables operators to deliver network-based on-demand video services including catch-up TV without the need for a set-top box (STB), greatly reducing per-subscriber costs for operators.

 

The launch of the IP ‘Interaction Channel’ on UK Freesat is another area where S&T is at the forefront with its implementation of the D-Book 6 published earlier this year by the DTG, offering a standardised solution for delivery of content over IP and broadcast to hybrid receivers. S&T will show catch-up TV applications implemented with MHEG Presenter 2 and including flexible integration with back-office systems.

 

Also new for IBC is TSMONITOR, an innovative monitoring tool for interactive TV and subtitling that implements multiple virtual receivers running on a single rack-mounted server, each executing a pre-defined, scripted functional test case. Designed for use by playout centres and broadcasters delivering either interactive TV (including interactive advertising) or subtitled services, it incorporates a web-browser-based user interface that provides a simple ‘Traffic Light’ status display.

 

TSMONITOR enables operational staff to drill down into the detail of alarms and swiftly rectify potentially costly errors, thus facilitating the rock-solid performance that viewers, content providers and advertisers expect. All events are logged for compliance and analysis.

 

ALSO ON DISPLAY:

 

♦ REDKEY™ 2 – The latest version of S&T’s MHEG-5 middleware engine offers a modular architecture and supports all of the current international profiles of the MHEG interactive TV standard, including those implemented in the UK Freeview/Freesat, Boxer/Ireland, New Zealand, Hong Kong, South Africa and Australia. REDKEY™ 2 also supports Interaction Channel IP connectivity to enable hybrid broadcast/IPTV receivers.

 

♦ TSBROADCASTER 2 – the second generation of S&T’s DSM-CC Object Carousel product for DVB (MHEG-5 and MHP), OCAP/tru2way™ and ETV platforms provides a new and enhanced user interface as well as improved performance, and can now be integrated with industry-standard broadcast automation systems. The OCAP/tru2way™ version also includes Out Of Band (OOB) playout, Common Download and DTA support.

 

♦ MHEG EPG – a complete platform EPG including PVR integration for both PayTV and ‘Freeview’ operators based on MHEG-5 middleware. The EPG offers channel branding with logos as well as support for advertising and sponsorship banners.

 

♦ MHEG CONTROLLER – an application manager for MHEG middleware that displays ‘calls to action’ and manages the launch of applications with optional accurate synchronization to the linear program using Stream Events.

 

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About Strategy & Technology

 

Strategy & Technology Ltd is a specialist company building and implementing technology based on international standards in digital TV. It is the leading independent company in the industry sector that supports the MHEG interactive TV standard, and provides complete interactive applications and systems for broadcasters and manufacturers. S&T’s TSBroadcaster and TSPlayer systems are used for the creation of MHP, MHEG and OCAP interactive TV transmissions, and its RedKey™ MHEG engine is licensed to digital receiver and set top box manufacturers worldwide.