Italy adopts HbbTV 2.0.1 interactive TV standard

Italy has adopted the HbbTV version 2.0.1 technology, based on HTML5, as a single standard for interactive TV services provided by broadcasters on Smart TVs and set-top-boxes.

The confirmation comes from the publication of the HD Book 4.0, a series of documents compiled by HD Forum Italia (HDFI) that contain the technical specifications aimed at manufacturers of TV reception equipment for the Italian market.

The first terminals featuring the new technology, which is not only an open standard, but also shared at European level and integrated with the Web language, will arrive on the market during 2017.

Thus, HbbTV will replace the MHP standard, which was introduced in Italy since 2004 for the creation of apps commonly used by users for interactive TV viewing in non-linear mode.

The changes will primarily affect broadcasters offering interactive TV services on Connected TVs and decoders. These include Catch Up TV services offered by Italy’s leading broadcasters, such as Rai Replay, La 7 On Demand, Mediaset OnDemand, as well as PPV services from Mediaset (Infinity and Premium Play