[SatNews] Ocean Blue Software has partnered with STMicroelectronics to demonstrate a proof of concept HbbTV (Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV) solution at the CES show, Las Vegas.

Developing the HbbTV solution with Opera Software will enable CE vendors and OEMs to offer a feature-rich, low-risk solution with reduced time to market. HbbTV is a major pan-European initiative aimed at harmonising the broadcast and broadband delivery of entertainment to the consumer through connected TVs. Consumers can access new services from entertainment providers such as broadcasters, online providers and CE manufacturers — including catch-up TV, video on demand (VoD), interactive advertising, personalisation, voting, games and social networking, as well as program-related services such as digital text and EPGs.

As the innovation continues to gain momentum in the European TV marketplace, most major TV brands are now launching HbbTV compliant products and in Germany alone the sales of HbbTV enabled TVs are expected to reach 4 million units next year. At the same time broadcasters are improving the coverage of HbbTV with ZDF and Bayerische Runfunk both making HbbTV available on terrestrial as well as satellite broadcasts. ARD, ZDF, RTL and ProseibenSat 1 already have HbbTV services running on their satellite broadcasts in Germany. The European Standards Organisation ETSI has now approved and released the 1.1.1 specification; this specification is available for download via the ETSI web site.