Tag Archive for: HbbTV

Jessica Glad

CNS Renews Its DSM-CC Carousel and Datacasting Solution with Icareus

, ,

Helsinki & Taipei, 28.08.2025: Icareus has been selected by CNS (China Network Systems), Taiwan’s largest cable TV and broadband operator, to replace their old legacy datacasting platform in their cable network.

The project is facilitated and managed by Icareus’ systems integration partner Stratevision and the solution is now in production. The delivered Icareus datacasting platform includes fully redundant Icareus Playout CS100 data carousel and one lab environment.

The new solution had to flawlessly integrate with the existing set-top boxes and their middleware requirements without any modifications. Icareus was even able to support the non-standard DVB components off-the-shelf, impressing the customer and giving them peace-of-mind on the flexibility of the platform.

Key factors why CNS selected Icareus Playout to be a key part of their head-end:

  • Ease of deployment: Icareus Playout provided a seamless integration with CNS’s existing set-top boxes and their customised middleware. The integration ensured that viewers continue to enjoy an optimal user experience.
  • Operational excellence: Icareus Playout datacasting solution has been on the market for over 20 years.It has been constantly developed and has become a leading datacasting platform in the world for DSM-CC Object- and Carousels, and AITs, PSI/SI and EPG generation and DVB OTA- SSU over-the-air updates.
  • Proven track-record: Icareus has been delivering datacasting solutions to cable, satellite, and terrestrial operators since 2007, including similar cases like Telenet (Belgium) in 2023.
  • High quality support: The dedication of Icareus to continuous product development, coupled with the local support offered through Stratevision, solidified the partnership. This commitment promises ongoing enhancement and troubleshooting.
"We are delighted to have joined forces with Stratevision to modernize and renew CNS’s datacasting platform with Icareus Playout solution, ensuring a modern, reliable, and future-proof service for their viewers."
Toni Leiponen
Toni LeiponenCEO, Icareus

About Icareus Playout
Icareus Playout has been trusted by broadcasters and operators worldwide since 2004. The platform covers EPG, datacasting, and over-the-air updates, with proven deployments in more than 50 countries. The product family also includes tools for interactive TV, HbbTV, and service testing.
More information: https://icareus.com/products/icareus-playout-broadcast-service-management-platform/

About Icareus
Founded in 2001, Icareus Ltd is a Finnish pioneer in broadcast and online video solutions. Our flagship products, Icareus Playout and the Icareus Video Cloud, serve broadcasters, operators, and enterprises in over 60 countries, including customers such as BBC, France24, RAI and Arqiva. Millions of consumers worldwide enjoy TV and video services powered by Icareus.
More information: https://www.icareus.com

About Stratevision
Stratevision was founded in 2010 and headquartered in Hong Kong, Stratevision is a leading system integrator and provider of digital TV and OTT solutions in Asia. The company has delivered set-top boxes and customized TV systems to more than half of Taiwan’s cable operators as well as to numerous hotels and media companies. Known as a flexible and highly experienced partner, Stratevision offers end-to-end services from design to deployment and maintenance, helping media companies and operators implement cost-effective and innovative broadcast and video solutions. Read more: https://www.stratevision.com/

About CNS
CNS (China Network Systems), is the largest cable TV and broadband operator in Taiwan. The company serves around 1.2 million paying subscribers with network coverage reaching more than 2 million households across the country, particularly in metropolitan areas such as Greater Taipei, Kaohsiung, and Tainan. CNS provides high-quality TV, internet, and telecommunication services through its hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network. The operator is recognized as a technology leader in the market, continuously investing in innovative services such as datacasting to enhance the viewing experience and deliver new forms of content and applications to its customers. Read more: https://www.cns.net.tw/

Relevant material

Downloads & further reading

Additional materials regarding this article

Icareus Playout CS Carousel / Streamer Server Presentation (EN)

More information about the Icareus Playout CS Carousel

Related posts

/by
Mikko Karppinen

Why DVB-I Specification Works and Is Crucially Needed for OTT Services

, ,

We all know that the Internet is a wild west when it comes to the number of standards out there, while the broadcast industry has kept things a bit more controlled. Because of this, TV services have a 100% SLA, while streaming services usually have around 99% (or less) – a small but important difference.

Now, think about how many different ways there are to manage channel lineups, EPGs, and extra TV services like catch-up, restart, and SSAI. The answer? A LOT! And this is exactly where DVB-I steps in.

What is DVB-I all about?

DVB-I is a new standard that lets TV services be delivered over the internet, kind of like how broadcast TV works. It makes it easier for users to find and watch content, whether it’s delivered through traditional broadcast or online. Essentially, it adds something extra to regular broadcast services, giving broadcasters a hybrid option. This hybrid setup can really improve how content is delivered, discovered, and enjoyed by users. What makes DVB-I stand out from other internet-based TV services is its focus on making things as reliable as traditional broadcast TV, while also giving users a great experience.

DVB-I works on all device types, with the same registry capable of managing mobile and desktop as well. So, don’t limit your thinking to just DVB networks.

Technical executive summary

To put it simply, DVB-I is all about making hybrid broadcast and broadband content work together smoothly.

Put less simply, here’s how it works and what it offers:

  • Service Lists collect and share information about both broadcast and IP services. These lists are put together by broadcasters and content owners, combining TV channels and streaming content into one place. This is key for the hybrid model DVB-I supports.
  • Service Discovery and Selection happen through the Centralized Service Registry (CSR). The CSR takes all these individual Service Lists and brings them together into one big, easy-to-access list. This ensures users always have up-to-date service info. When clients check out the registry, they get the details they need to tune into services, whether over the internet or through traditional broadcast.
  • Logical Channel Numbering (LCN) keeps things simple by giving channels a consistent number across both broadcast and IP services. Even when services switch from one to the other, the LCN ensures channel numbers stay the same. This helps keep the traditional TV experience intact while introducing new tech.

DVB-I also adjusts service info based on where users are or what kind of device they’re using. This means viewers only see the content that’s available to them, without getting frustrated by options that don’t work.

Finally, DVB-I works well with HbbTV (Hybrid Broadcast-Broadband TV), which lets users access interactive features like on-demand content and targeted ads. By 2026, more than half of European households will be reachable through HbbTV. By the end of this year, around 97 million households will be connected, making it the largest TV platform for advertisers.

Service Lists are key in providing flexibility, expansion and reach

Earlier, we talked about how Service Lists are central to DVB-I. But let’s dive a bit deeper into how they work.

The Service List Discovery (SLD) mechanism is key to how DVB-I operates. It pulls together a mix of TV services, whether they’re delivered via broadcast, broadband, or both. These lists carry the metadata that makes it easy for users to find and access content across different platforms.

Each service in the list includes key details like the channel name, service ID, transport protocol info (DVB, MPEG-DASH, HLS), EPG data, language options, and region availability.

Broadcasters can use both static and dynamic service lists. Static lists are great for consistent channels, while dynamic lists adjust based on location, bandwidth, or user preferences. All these service lists are brought together by the central service registry. In horizontal markets, this registry might be run by a government body, and in vertical markets, it’s usually the operator managing it. (More on that here.)

What really sets DVB-I apart is its ability to combine traditional broadcast channels with internet-streamed content in a single hybrid service list. This hybrid approach gives viewers a smooth and unified experience.

HbbTV: adding value and monetisation

DVB-I works hand-in-hand with HbbTV (Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV), a standard that combines traditional broadcast with IP delivery. DVB-I services can be paired with HbbTV apps, which allows interactive TV features like on-demand content, catch-up services, targeted ads, and more. This helps make DVB-I part of a bigger interactive ecosystem, offering more than just linear TV. Plus, HbbTV can be used to create DVB-I-based EPGs for a more personalised and branded user experience.

Streaming Services with MPEG-DASH and HLS

Unicast: From one to another device on the network. Efficient for single-device delivery.
Multicast: From one to many (but not all) devices on the network. Efficient for multi-device delivery.
Broadcast: From one to all devices on the network. Simple to implement, but inefficient.

DVB-I uses adaptive bitrate streaming technologies like MPEG-DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP) and HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) to deliver content over IP networks. Both multicast and unicast delivery methods utilise these technologies, with multicast being especially useful for large-scale events as it helps maintain network efficiency. On the other hand, unicast is used for delivering on-demand content.

A key challenge that DVB-I tackles is syncing IP streams with traditional broadcast signals. This is especially important for live events, where viewers expect minimal delays when switching between broadcast and internet delivery (like moving from SD to HD or even 4K).

Content Protection and DRM

DVB-I promotes Digital Rights Management (DRM) systems to safeguard content, including those used in HbbTV. While it doesn’t prescribe a specific DRM system, it ensures compatibility with a range of protection mechanisms to secure content and prevent unauthorised access.

DVB-I vs. OTT: Why DVB-I Matters

As the name suggests, Digital Video Broadcasting – Internet (DVB-I) offers the much-needed standardisation for delivering TV services over IP. It’s not just for traditional DVB networks—it can be used by any OTT platform offering linear TV channels. Now, it doesn’t cover things like how Netflix sets up its service or how broadcasters handle their catch-up content. But, it does provide a solid framework for managing linear channels, FAST channels, or live sports streaming. This was something the industry didn’t have before DVB-I!

For OTT providers, DVB-I offers a straightforward way to launch streaming services across all DVB networks that support it. Adding channels to broadcast networks is almost like plug and play—just add a new service provider to the central service registry, and boom, OTT channels are on-air, just like any broadcast channel.

In the end, DVB-I isn’t just for OTT; it’s about finally bringing standards to areas that have been missing them, and bridging the gap between broadcast and OTT services.

Conclusion: DVB-I Is More Than OTT

DVB-I represents a significant advancement in digital video delivery. It brings together traditional broadcast services and modern internet-based solutions into one unified system. With support for service lists, adaptive streaming, and hybrid delivery, DVB-I is set to play a big role in the future of television broadcasting. By blending broadcast and IP services, it helps broadcasters, operators, and OTT providers deliver a smooth, high-quality experience to viewers, no matter the platform or network.

Relevant material

Icareus DVB-I Service Manager

Read more about our Icareus DVB-I Service Manager from our website

/by
Mikko Karppinen

11 highlights of the 11th HbbTV Symposium 

, , ,

Discover the evolving world of television technology as we delve into the insights from the 11th HbbTV Symposium in Naples, Italy. From advancements in TV standards to innovations in addressable TV advertising, this post explores how these developments benefit TV viewers, enhancing their content discovery, user experience, and overall engagement. Join us in uncovering the practical advantages that these technological strides bring to the forefront of the television landscape. 

1

Broadcasters pushing direct to consumer business models 

The 11th HbbTV Symposium unfolded in Naples, Italy. In his opening remarks, Mr. Vincent Grivet set the tone by addressing a crucial industry trend: broadcasters are rapidly adopting both OTT delivery and direct-to-consumer models for big screens.  an example of FTA channels new way to reach consumers is Freely’s (https://www.everyonetv.co.uk/news/press-release/new-free-tv-service-via-ip) collaborative approach where they unite forces for a premium content offering. 

2

HbbTV Standard Advancements 

Moving on to advancements in the HbbTV standard, two new specifications are introduced: 2.0.4 and OppApp. Notably, the latter powers Freely’s success. Additionally, updates on reference applications and the test suite are to be highlighted. 

3

TV Sales Steady and Changing Revenue Streams 

Paul Gray’s (OMDIA) market review notes positive developments. He emphasizes robust TV sales and CE manufacturers exploring new revenue streams from advertising and subscription services, following the example of Roku and Vizio. However, challenges persist, because up to 70% of SmartTV advertising spending concentrated in the US. 

4

Diversifying Recurring Revenues 

In the pursuit of diversifying recurring revenues, TV platforms are starting to prioritize them over hardware sales. This involves exploring revenue avenues such as video advertising, revenue sharing with broadcasters/OTT VOD services, audience data, service placements on home screens, and selling custom remote control buttons for OTT providers. 

Smart TV advertising has already surpassed TV hardware sales, underscoring the growing importance of recurring revenues over one-time TV device sales.

5

Software’s Rising Importance

A noteworthy shift is observed as consumers increasingly prioritize the quality of TV platforms when purchasing new TVs. This prompts TV manufacturers to adopt a “razor blades or printer cartridge” business models, 75′ TV costs 400€ and recurring revenue possibly up to 100€/year for a single device. Simultaneously, the battle between operating systems, including Android, Tizen, and WebOS, intensifies. 

6

Content Discoverability and HbbTV’s Role 

From a consumer perspective, this raises the question of content discoverability — how many apps do I need to have installed on my SmartTV to access the content I want: FAST, catch-up, or VOD? In my opinion, HbbTV can address the discoverability of TV services, not by relying on the TV manufacturer, but as an integral part of TV channels. With the rise of OppApp, it can also become an integral part of the TV device itself.

7

DVB-I’s Potential for FAST Channels 

DVB-I is making strides with technical trials in Italy, Spain, and Germany, aiming to seamlessly integrate broadcast and broadband channels into one user interface, significantly enhancing content discovery.

However, a crucial question remains regarding the regulation, legislation, and certification regime needed to define roles and responsibilities in its management. The seamless combination of broadcast and broadband services is highly lucrative for content owners, providing cost-effective means for even niche channels to reach larger screens.

Another consideration is how to develop and distribute DVB-I compliant client apps to devices like set-top boxes, streaming sticks, and mobile devices. Nevertheless, progress in technical, business, and legislative realms continues, and we anticipate real production deployments of DVB-I in Europe soon. This addresses the future of TV, where broadcast, OTT, and multicast deliver mainstream content to large audiences, alongside niche thematic and local content in both linear and on-demand offerings.

The challenge lies in defining the regulatory framework for its effective management.

8

Addressable Advertising and DVB-TA Compliant TVs 

Addressable advertising is deemed a crucial feature for generating increased revenue from the same ad inventory, emerging as one of the hot topics once again in Naples. While display advertising still has its place, there’s a noticeable shift in focus and high expectations toward dynamic ad substitution. In Italy, Linear Ad replacement has become a daily norm, experiencing a 30% YoY growth with over 100 campaigns in 2023. The most prominent advertiser segments are retail, beverages, and Telco. Two main models have been adopted: replacing the entire ad break with online ads and changing only 1-2 ads within the ad break. Technically, most broadcasters rely on client-side ad replacement and custom pre-buffering of manifests to ensure a seamless transition from broadcast to broadband and back.

What holds great promise is the release of the very first DVB-TA compliant TVs by Samsung, utilized by Mediaset in their dynamic ad substitution business. This development not only makes technical implementation easier but also provides a broader horizontal technology platform for utilization.

9

Promoting HbbTV Engagement for Targeted Advertising 

To launch successful targeted advertising in any country, HbbTV should be mandated as the default setting. However, channels must also offer additional beneficial HbbTV services to keep viewers engaged, as seeing only ads may result into reluctance in keeping HbbTV activated on their TVs. 

10

Audience Measurement Challenges 

A significant focus during the unconference, evident from the substantial audience participation, revolved around audience measurement. Exploring how entities like Barb, GfK, Kantar, and others compare to real-time measurement via HbbTV sparked interesting discussions. Particularly for smaller channels facing zero ratings, HbbTV measurement has proven invaluable. The data from HbbTV audiences clearly demonstrates their presence, even when panel data falls short. However, a challenge persists in persuading advertisers of this reality, given their reliance on official TV ratings. This poses a political question requiring resolution, and it’s crucial to involve both media agencies and official panels—often the gatekeepers between TV and media buyers in many countries. While data collection can be costly, channels must assess whether they can justify the expense with the potential for a larger ad inventory and enhanced visibility into how their programming is consumed.

11

Developer Tools and Industry Support 

Concluding on another positive note, Samsung’s release of developer tools for 2024 models is highlighted as a step forward, fostering efforts to enhance UX and cross-platform support within the industry. I hope this paves road for other manufacturers to follow. 

HbbTV is a global initiative aimed at harmonizing the delivery of broadcast and broadband services through connected TVs and set-top boxes. It enables broadcasters to deliver interactive content, such as on-demand videos, catch-up TV, and interactive applications, alongside traditional broadcast services.

Read about Icareus’ HbbTV platform: https://icareus.com/products/hbbtv-solutions/

HbbTV symposiums are events where industry professionals, stakeholders, and experts gather to discuss the latest developments, trends, and challenges in the field of hybrid TV. These symposiums often include keynote presentations, panel discussions, technical sessions, and demonstrations of new HbbTV technologies. Participants may include representatives from broadcasting companies, technology providers, regulatory bodies, and other relevant organizations.

More information:
https://www.hbbtv.org/11th-hbbtv-symposium-and-awards-2023/

/by
Jessica Glad

11th HbbTV Symposium and Awards

,

Meet us @ the

11th HbbTV Symposium and Awards

 

28 – 29 November 2023

Stazione Marittima, Molo Angioino, Naples, Italy

Icareus will be at the 11th HbbTV Symposium and Awards, the annual key industry summit targeting platform operators, broadcasters, advertisers and adtechs, standards organisations and technology companies. Our director Mikko Karppinen will be there to talk about Icareus’ solutions:

  • Icareus Playout CS HbbTV Carousel streamer with support for AIT, DSM-CC, DVB-TA and Advertising
  • Icareus Suite cloud for HbbTV and OTT service management
  • Icareus HbbTV and OTT applications
  • HbbTV Addressable TV Advertising
  • HbbTV Audience Measurement

Find us at IBC2024!

August 14, 2024 No Comments

Meet the Icareus team at IBC2024 IBC is the world’s most influential media, entertainment and technology show. Six leading international bodies are the partners behind IBC, representing both exhibitors and

Read More »

11 highlights of the 11th HbbTV Symposium 

December 5, 2023 No Comments

Discover the dynamic landscape of television technology as we dissect the highlights from the 11th HbbTV Symposium in Naples, Italy. From broadcasters embracing direct-to-consumer models to advancements in HbbTV standards like OppApp, the blog post navigates through the evolving trends that promise to redefine the television viewing experience.

Read More »
/by
Jessica Glad

Audience Measurement from 2 million+ Turkish TVs and HbbTV services for four channels with the effort of one

, , , , , ,
Audience Measurement from 2 million+ Turkish TVs and HbbTV services for four channels with the effort of one

Helsinki, 23.5.2018, Icareus has delivered a turnkey HbbTV solution to ATV, the leading commercial broadcaster in Turkey. ATV wanted to offer more to their viewers and to understand better how their channels are watched, so they turned to Icareus to design and deliver a complete SmartTV service based on HbbTV (www.hbbtv.org). Icareus build a turnkey HbbTV solution based on its existing products that enabled ATV (www.atv.com.tr) and its sister channels A Haber, A Spor and children’s’ channel Minika to offer valuable services to their viewers via SmartTVs.

Continue reading
/by
Jessica Glad

Mediaset rolls out their HbbTV services with Icareus

, , , ,
Mediaset rolls out their HbbTV services with Icareus

Helsinki, 23.5.2018, Mediaset, the leading commercial broadcaster in Italy, launched their hybrid, broadcast and broadband services (HbbTV) services in 2017 with the help of Icareus. Icareus delivered new HbbTV Carousel solutions to Mediaset, that was rigorously tested to support the simulcast of the legacy MHP platform and HbbTV, the critical requirement in Italy. Icareus solution will allow them to expand their HbbTV services.

Continue reading
/by
Jessica Glad

Icareus’ End-to-End HbbTV Platform to leading terrestrial operator Emitel

, , ,

Helsinki, 15.2.2018, Icareus has delivered a turnkey HbbTV solution to Emitel, the national terrestrial TV network operator in Poland. With the new Icareus system Emitel is start the HbbTV service offering for TV viewers in Poland.

Continue reading
/by

Tag Archive for: HbbTV

Jessica Glad

Icareus Playout PC Compact Lab solution presentation

, ,

Icareus Playout Compact PC100 is all-in-one Lab service for building a real broadcast TV environment optionally combined with cloud services to test, develop and demonstrate new Interactive TV services and and applications.

It is targeted for broadcasters, TV operators, CE manufacturers, universities, application developers and other research organizations.

Presentation version 20180906.

/by