We may run out of different names for hybrid television systems. Two weeks ago saw the first demonstration of the prototype NHK hybrid system in Tokyo, 'hybridcast'. Recently the ETSI JTC approved the HbbTV (Hybrid Broadcast Broadband Television) specification. This week sees the first demonstration in Seoul of 'OHTV' (Open Hybrid TV). This last system is being developed by five Korean companies, the three large Korean broadcasters (KBS, SBS, and MBC) and the two largest Korean electronics manufacturers, Samsung and LG. They plan to have a version 1 spec. available later this year.
System similarities compared
The system was on show at the Korean national exhibition for broadcast and media, KOBA 2010. A system diagram for OHTV looks rather similar to a diagram of HbbTV in its combination of broadcast and broadband signals. The pilot applications on show at KOBA 2010 were what you might expect from HBB - EPGs, viewer recommendations, VOD clips, etc.
| The group of companies developing this sees this as the means to introduce a 3D service for terrestrial viewers in Korea. It could be provided by broadband, or by the VOD-NRT (non real time broadcast path download to the STB storage).
At first appearances, while Hybridcast seemed closer to the MHP HBB system being developed in Italy, the OHTV system looked relatively close to HbbTV (with full HTML, and AVC video).
We can also note that the ATSC plans to include Internet TV capability in its 'ATSC 2.0' specification now being studied. |  OHTV pilot application shown during the KOBA 2010 Show |
The tally of options for HBB thus continues to grow. Is there a sign of world leadership to bring them together?