BBC Demonstrates New TV Technology
The BBC has given a sneak preview of its developmental technologies which promise to provide the next generation of television services, such as platform independent interactive technology and on-demand content via the internet.
The Corporation’s research and development facility at Kingswood Warren in Surrey has been working on several new technologies which could shape the future of television entertainment in Britain, with interactive technologies at the forefront of its research.
Amongst the products currently under wraps is a cross-platform authoring system for the creation of interactive TV applications across several broadcast systems. The system, dubbed DVB-PCF or Digital Video Broadcasting Portable Content Format is designed to allow content providers to run creatives over several platforms easily, creating a common language between differing systems. The first version of the PCF system is due to be delivered by the end of the year.
Also under development by the BBC are systems for recording interactive feeds at the same time as a main programme, allowing playback of an original broadcast, complete with all interactive content associated with it, regardless of how many channels that content spans.
The Corporation’s research department is also testing new internet broadcasting techniques, designed to allow better quality content via the internet for coverage of events such as the Olympic games, which was covered in great depth for the first time by the BBC’s online team last year (see BBC Takes Olympics Online And Interactive For First Time).
New techniques for navigating through an increasing number of digital channels and online sources were also unveiled by the BBC, with a test-bed system demonstrating the latest “TV-Anytime” technology – a set of open standards to aid navigation by devices such as personal video recorders (PVRs).
The development of new broadcast technology is high on the agenda of BBC director general, Mark Thompson, who recently told the Westminster Media Forum that he would drive the Corporation forward via radio, new media and on-demand services, pledging to keep the BBC at the forefront of cutting edge technology (see Thompson Pledges Drive For Digital Revolution).
Amongst the newest products being rolled out by the BBC are expanded podcasting services, allowing on-demand radio listening regardless of location (see NewsLine), and the experimental Internet Media Player (iMP), allowing licence fee payers to catch up on TV content from the last seven days online (see BBC Media Player Paves Way For Legal TV Downloads).
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