Richard Lindsay-Davies, DTG
Richard Lindsay-Davies, Director General of UK industry body the Digital TV Group (DTG), on the progress being made with Connected TV experiences, and the major game-changers he anticipates for the UK television market in 2013.
What progress have you seen in the UK’s Connected TV market in the past year?
Over the last year the user experience of Connected TV has become more seamless, and increasingly we are seeing integration with companion devices.
Apps for connected TVs are growing, with the BBC Sport App on connected TVs seeing 200,000 users a day during the Olympic Games.
Last year the DTG published the seventh version of the D-Book: the technical specification for Freeview HD, which included connected TV extensions.
Key features include an enhanced EPG with the ability to go both backwards and forwards and an enhanced broadcast record lists feature.
What will be the other game-changers in 2013?
The DTG thinks the main game-changers will be companion devices, 4G (LTE) and home networking, and we are currently working with our members to define what work needs to be done in these areas.
Will these developments help or hinder broadcasters and content owners?
Companion devices present a huge opportunity for broadcasters, content owners and advertisers, increasing their chances of reaching and engaging with a targeted audience.
The introduction of 4G need to be carefully managed by the industry as a whole if we are to maximise the consumer benefits of mobile broadband while mitigating interference with the DTT network.
Home networking is still in the early stages of development but the opportunities for operators created by connecting devices around the home are evident.
