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TV Brands Blamed For HbbTV Delay September Launch Planned

TV Brands Blamed For HbbTV Delay September Launch Planned
TV Brands Blamed For HbbTV Delay September Launch Planned

Free-to-air TV stations are set to switch on their HbbTV service in mid-September along with a new Freeview capability.

Six months late the TV stations will simultaneously roll out the HbbTV in an effort to take on Foxtel who is currently giving away three months free at JB HI Fi stores in an effort to attract consumers to their service which is expensive.

TV manufacturers including Panasonic, Sony, LG, Samsung Hisense, Philips and Hitachi along with set top box manufacturer Humax will have Hbb TV enabled TV’s and set top boxes, in stores by September after initially telling TV stations that models launched in the first half of the year would have the new HbbTV chipset built in.  

HbbTV stands for Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV, this is a European developed standard that allows TV stations to deliver new free-to-air broadcasting and IPTV services along with video on-demand and catch-up TV services.

The TV stations will use the HbbTV launch in September to launch a new Freeview service which will restrict the way in which users can fast forward through advertising. 

The new Freeview service will deliver an improved electronic program guide and a catch-up service.

HbbTV was unveiled in March, but technical issues with the technology have led to a series of launch dates being abandoned, much to the annoyance of the networks.

The Australian said that TV stations are angry about missing a crucial window to achieve market penetration in which the 2014 World Cup in Brazil was aired on SBS.

A holdup in the supply chain for HbbTV-enabled TVs has been blamed for the delay. 

In June, a falling-out between the Seven Network and regional affiliate partner Prime Media over HbbTV cast a wider shadow over the plans.

Prime split with members of Freeview and decided to ditch HbbTV. The broadcaster resigned, with membership of Freeview conditional upon participation in HbbTV.

The broadcaster said the cost did not justify the investment and raised questions over penetration in markets where the service had been launched.