Tweet
Freeview Oz welcomes EPG
Rose Major
Australia’s Freeview free-to-air digital-terrestrial TV platform finally has an adequate electronic programme guide, over a year-and-a-half after the platform’s launch.
The grouping of free-to-air broadcasters started marketing the platform under the Freeview brand in November 2008 but there was no single EPG listing all channels’ programmes. Instead, networks sent their own information to set-top boxes, so there was no consistency across EPGs and often not all information was available on screen at the one time.
Freeview CEO Robin Parkes said: “The new Freeview EPG will give viewers broad functionality that has been developed in response to consumer demand for more program information, easier navigation and improved recording capability.
“The Freeview EPG will provide a consolidated platform for the consumer when navigating Freeview channels, and will also provide consistency of experience across multiple digital TVs in the home, so that the consumer only has to learn the navigation once.”
The new Freeview EPG will collate programme data from all networks for simultaneous transmission in a consistent format, while new MHEG 5 technology also means that the Freeview EPG will have video streaming and text capability, allowing consumers to continue to watch TV whilst navigating the EPG.
From July, all STBs, PVRs and digital TVs that carry the new EPG will feature the new Freeview EPG logo.
Rose Major
Australia’s Freeview free-to-air digital-terrestrial TV platform finally has an adequate electronic programme guide, over a year-and-a-half after the platform’s launch.
The grouping of free-to-air broadcasters started marketing the platform under the Freeview brand in November 2008 but there was no single EPG listing all channels’ programmes. Instead, networks sent their own information to set-top boxes, so there was no consistency across EPGs and often not all information was available on screen at the one time.
Freeview CEO Robin Parkes said: “The new Freeview EPG will give viewers broad functionality that has been developed in response to consumer demand for more program information, easier navigation and improved recording capability.
“The Freeview EPG will provide a consolidated platform for the consumer when navigating Freeview channels, and will also provide consistency of experience across multiple digital TVs in the home, so that the consumer only has to learn the navigation once.”
The new Freeview EPG will collate programme data from all networks for simultaneous transmission in a consistent format, while new MHEG 5 technology also means that the Freeview EPG will have video streaming and text capability, allowing consumers to continue to watch TV whilst navigating the EPG.
From July, all STBs, PVRs and digital TVs that carry the new EPG will feature the new Freeview EPG logo.