UK-based interactive TV technology provider, Strategy &
Technology (note: the company's offerings include DSM-CC object
and data carousels, MHEG application development, MHEG
engines for receiver applications, TV-Anytime stream generation,
and more), says that it has received an order from Hong Kong
broadcaster, TVB, for a complete, end-to-end interactive TV
solution. The deal sees TVB deploying S&T's TSBroadcaster and
TSPlayer playout systems, as well as its MHEG Presenter
publishing framework with supporting application-development
tools, in order to power a digital terrestrial ITV service called
"TVB Interactive."
According to S&T, the solution will provide TVB with a fully
redundant playout platform for MHEG-5 interactive TV
applications that will be received on "TVB Interactive"-certified
integrated digital television sets and set-top boxes. The company
says that at least 12 receiver manufacturers have integrated the
MHEG-5 Hong Kong profile into their products for that market to
date, and that conformance testing is being provided by Hong
Kong Science and Technology Park. "We are delighted to have
concluded this order from TVB and in particular with TVB's
decision to select the MHEG-5 standard for its broadcasts on the
Hong Kong digital terrestrial platform," S&T's director of
international sales, Colin Pryor, said in a prepared statement.
"MHEG-5 offers a flexible interactive platform as well as the
significant advantage of low incremental cost in receiver devices
that will ensure that the whole audience is able to receive
interactive applications." S&T says that its regional partner,
Magna Systems and Engineering, is providing ongoing installation
and support services to TVB as part of its contract with the
broadcaster.
