A DTG working group has finalised details of an Internet TV standard that will allow every free-to-air HD receiver in the UK to have an IP connection and free-to-air catch-up capability.

David Cutts, the managing director of S&T and chairman of the DTG ‘Interaction Channel’ working group, told delegates at the DTG Summit last week that as a result of his group’s work: “Free to Air catch-up TV for all is here now and can be in every broadband home via Freeview HD and Freesat.”

The outcome is that the BBC iPlayer will be made available on both platforms with ITV Player to follow on Freesat later this year.

iPlayer on Freesat is currently in a public beta test.

Cutts said: “Of the 60% of internet users who watch video, 69% watch catch up TV. And when they can do this on TV - as in Virgin - they do it more.”

The ‘Interaction Channel’ connects the interactive system in the Freeview or Freesat receiver to the Internet and enables interaction through connection to a Web server.

It also allows applications to start from broadcast channel and transition to IP delivered content.

Other benefits of this work will include:

  • Video ancillary to main programmes
  • Transactions as part of applications
  • Interactive services for TV with common data sources to internet
  • Targeted advertising
  • Receiver authentication services

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