Overview
Voyager is OBS’s DVB-based MHEG-5 middleware system, which enables interactive ‘red button’ services on digital TV devices for every transmission network (DVB-T /S /C.) Although Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV) is becoming more widely supported for interactive TV services, MHEG-5 still has a wide install base of services in countries across the globe (UK, Australia, New Zealand, HongKong, Ireland, and South Africa). MHEG-5 offers access to a range of news and weather services, home shopping, electronic programming guides (EPGs) and interactive advertising and games. MHEG-5 is also one of the technologies specified by CI Plus for use in conjunction with CAM resident applications.
OBS' MHEG-5 middleware is fully compliant with all MHEG standards as set in the UK 1.06 and DBook 6.2.1, DBook specifications. Voyager can be provided as a standalone software product with a well-defined API for integration into a third party DVB stack, or customers can opt for a turnkey solution from OBS, using Sunrise, our proven DVB software. The Voyager MHEG solution has been deployed in over 10 million units worldwide.
Features
MHEG allows a wide range of TV-centric interactive services to be deployed, providing users with a range of features. The interactive services that are offered typically include: news, weather services, home shopping, electronic programming guides (EPG), interactive advertising and games. The Interaction Channel (ICS) allows for additional broadcast related services and content to be delivered via an IP connection. The interaction channel, with its two-way interactivity, provides consumers with more forms of viewing, entertainment and richer interactive applications such as linear IP TV channels, catch-up TV, and VOD, T-commerce, voting and shopping. Our MHEG solution supports HD resolutions to ensure that users get the very best viewing experience possible.
News
Weather
Home Shopping
Linear IPTV Channels
Interactive Advertising
Interactive Games
EPG
Catch-Up TV
MHEG Infrastructure
MHEG HD Country Profiles
The ETSI MHEG standard (ES 202 184) is now the main standard from which all country profiles are generated. Each country/operator will then define their own profile to ensure that devices deployed into their market support the features used by their MHEG applications. Country profiles currently supported by OBS are:
- Freeview – UK
- Freeview – Australia
- Freeview – New Zealand
- TVB – Hong Kong
- Saorview – Ireland
- South Africa
MHEG Interaction Channel
The Interaction Channel (Return Path) extensions to the MHEG standard enable broadcast interactive services to be delivered via an IP connection. This will allow delivery of additional content and two-way interactivity, providing consumers with more forms of viewing, entertainment and richer interactive applications such as T-commerce, voting and shopping.
MHEG & CI Plus
MHEG, along with HbbTV, is one of the two execution environments specified by CI PLus LLP for enabling CAM resident applications. The OBS MHEG engine is fully compliant with the latest CI Plus requirements and is available for use with third, or OBS' own CI Plus Host stack
Benefits
MHEG offers users a variety of benefits the interactive elements create a range of interactive features which are inputted straight onto your TV. Our MHEG solution has been deployed globally; it is used by a wide range of countries who have defined their country profile. Furthermore, regular updates are completed to ensure that users have access to a current solution at all times.
Deployed Globally
MHEG's interactive TV middleware has been implemented in Freeview and Freesat in the UK, Freeview in New Zealand, TVB in Hong Kong, Freeview in Australia, Saorview in Ireland and South Africa.
Automatic Channel Update
MHEG allows the broadcaster to allocate the channel settings on the receiver. This automatic update saves you time by not having to manually update the channels and results in consumers always having access to their favourite shows and channels.
Positive User Experience
MHEG provides users with a range of interactive features. These features can also be provided in HD to ensure that users get the best possible viewing experience.
Find Out More...
If you would like to know more about Ocean Blue Software's MHEG solution, please get in touch via the form on our Contact Page.
