Freeview clarifies misleading reports on FreeviewPlus
Free digital television service Freeview has moved to clarify reports that consumers can access FreeviewPlus without the need for certified equipment.
The announcement:
Freeview today moved to correct misleading reports in the media concerning FreeviewPlus, the soon-to-be-launched service that provides access to content and services from the free-to-air networks.
Reports have suggested that TV viewers will be able to access the full FreeviewPlus offering without the need for FreeviewPlus certified equipment, which will include panel TVs, set top boxes and recording devices.
Well that clears that up.
I wrote that SMH story and it’s Freeview which is trying to mislead people.
My headline reads; “FreeviewPlus works with non-Freeview gear”. This is what the local industry is telling me, because HbbTV is an international open standard. When I spoke to Liz Ross from Freeview Australia she confirmed that it is correct;
“For FreeviewPlus certification, manufacturers will need to go through an approved test house to assure that all the HbbTV 1.5 features work, then they’ll need to send the box to us to ensure it works with all of the apps from Australian networks,” Ross says.
“Yet someone else could still build HbbTV into their box. We just wouldn’t be able to guarantee that everything will work smoothly. Our testing is designed to ensure a great user experience.”
http://www.smh.com.au/digital-.....346jb.html
While explaining the details of FreeviewPlus certification, I explained that HbbTV and FreeviewPlus will work on devices without certification. As in the past, the “entirely misleading message” Freeview wants to send to the Australian consumer is that you need to buy a new box with Freeview written on it.