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.
“Reports that equipment that does not carry FreeviewPlus certification will reliably deliver FreeviewPlus content and services are seriously misleading to the consumer,” Liz Ross, General Manager of Freeview, said.
“The FreeviewPlus certification process is about ensuring that TV receivers are fully tested and meet performance standards to deliver the best possible experience to viewers.
“If a consumer buys a non certified product, in other words equipment not featuring the FreeviewPlus logo, there is no guarantee of the performance of that equipment to deliver FreeviewPlus properly – or even at all,” Ms Ross said.
She said that major issues with non-certified FreeviewPlus equipment could include graphics display speeds so slow as to render the equipment virtually useless, and catch-up TV playback that is either unreliable, or not accessible.
“This is new hybrid TV technology never seen before in Australia, and we have been working very closely with manufacturers to make sure that when it is launched, FreeviewPlus will be the best TV experience Australian viewers have ever seen.
Freeview has also worked alongside retailers to ensure that their sales teams are fully conversant with the technology and the certification requirements.
“The FreeviewPlus certification process has been put in place by the free-to-air networks for a very good reason – namely to ensure consumers receive all the benefits of the new FreeviewPlus service, delivered with absolute reliability.
“Reports that FreeviewPlus certification is somehow unnecessary are irresponsible, and send an entirely misleading message to the Australian consumer,” Ms Ross said.
Source: AccessPR media release
Well that clears that up.
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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.
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