DTG begins work on Freeview Connected and 700MHz migration plan

The UK’s Digital Television Group (DTG) is initiating work on the specification for the proposed Freeview Connected platform that will enable the delivery of on-demand and catch-up services to complement the existing free-to-air digital-terrestrial platform, along with preparation for the possible clearance of the 700MHz UHF spectrum.

DTG members will begin working on D-Book 8, which will introduce support for Freeview Connected along with a raft of other features, with Working Group meetings due to begin after the summer break.

Simon Gauntlett, the DTG’s chief technology officer, has circulated a plan of activity to the relevant expert Working Groups covering a group of areas that include support for an HbbTV profile for Freeview. The DTG said this had become possible thanks to support from HbbTV allowing DTG Working Groups to discuss the draft HbbTV v2.0 specification and an agreement from Digital UK to discuss the Freeview Connected technical requirements specification.

The DTG will also work on possible migration from 700MHz if, as expected, this spectrum is allocated for mobile use in the coming years.

Other areas include the potential to add a UHD-1 Phase 1 profile to D-Book specifications and a profile for tablet DTT receivers.