The EBU Technical Committee (TC) met on 13-14 October 2008 in Geneva. Important decisions on digital broadcasting were taken, including clear statements on the EBU positions regarding FTA signalling, DVB-MHP and digital radio profiles.
DVB FTA profile recommended
First of all an EBU statement was agreed stating that if EBU Members need to use copy protection signalling with digital broadcasts they should use the agreed so-called DVB FTA profile. The statement also explains that the EBU is ready to discuss interoperability issues for receiver systems other than the DVB agreed DVB-CPCM system. Secondly an EBU statement will be prepared concerning the DVB-developed interactive TV API MHP. It will will explain that:
1. the new licensing regime for FTA broadcasters provided by Via Licensing makes MHP once more the current recommended choice for green field interactive TV services by EBU Members, but
2. that the EBU needs to investigate the longer term interactive TV requirements of EBU Members in the light of most recent technology developments and media convergence, and so there may be future changes to this policy.
New Digital Dividend report
The Technical Committee agreed a new report on broadcaster’s requirements for the digital dividend. This should be available shortly in a technical form, and in more accessible public form. Further a draft EBU statement will be prepared for approval by correspondence in support of the recently agreed WorldDMB Digital Radio profiles. In the EBU statement it will also be explained that the EBU considers the inclusion of FM in all profiles as mandatory, and the inclusion of AM (for appropriate markets) as recommended.
HDTV education
The Technical Committee also agreed a proposal to prepare an explanatory video on HDTV, which could be of value in explaining why 720p quality may be higher than 1080i, and other aspects of HDTV. The documents mentioned will be made available via this website soon.