The FreeTV Alliance releases first tech specifications

The FreeTV Alliance – a consortium of four European free-to-view satellite operators – has made the first of its new suite of technical specifications available.

The Remote Control Specification is designed to provide a common way for an operator’s mobile application to control the TV viewing experience on the TV screen.

The FreeTV Alliance said it now plans to release a broad set of specifications over the next 12 months, in an effort to support the growth of free-to-view satellite TV services.

“This new specification initiative is absolutely in-line with the stated aim of the Alliance to promote the harmonisation of satellite TV services and technology across Europe,” said Alberto Sigismondi, CEO of TivuSat and the chair of the FreeTV Alliance.

“All four founding members are looking forward to working with our hardware partners through the testing phase and then to implementing the first of these specifications in the very near future.”

The FreeTV Alliance launched at IBC last year with an aim of standardising satellite TV services and technologies in Europe. Fransat (France), Freesat (UK), HD+ (Germany), and Tivùsat (Italy) are members of the Alliance.

The FreeTV Alliance’s initial suite of specifications, that are currently under development, include: a remote control specification; a remote record specification; a common device certificate scheme; and a DRM Framework for SAT IP.