DTV4All Project
Dr Takebumi ITAGAKI
Co-ordinator of DTV4All Project
School of Engineering & Design
Brunel University (UK)
E-mail: T. Itagaki@brunel.ac.uk
DTV4All Project - introduction
DTV4All is a project funded by the European
Commission, under the CIP ICT Policy Support
Programme, to facilitate the provision of access
services on digital television across the European
Union.
DTV4All Project - introduction
Consortium
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Brunel University (UK) project co-ordinator
Red Bee (UK)
content provider
Danish Radio (DR)
national public broadcaster
IRT (DE)
research institute for broadcasting
RBB (DE)
local public broadcaster
TVC (ES)
local public broadcaster
Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona (ES)
trial co-ordinator
– RAI (IT)
national public broadcaster
Main Aims of the Project
• Offer and evaluate mature subtitling, audio description, audio
subtitling and signing services in a minimum of four territories
within the EU for at least 12 months
>> Results from Pilots will be presented by Prof Pilar ORERO
• Identify improvements in existing access services and ways of
addressing the key technical, organisational and legal
obstacles to the sustainable take-up of these services in the
timeframe 2008-2010 throughout Europe.
>> A case study will be presented by Ms Bettina HEIDKAMPTCHEGLOFF
• Test Results and Recommendations are available on
http://www.psp-dtv4all.org/
Current Situation in EU (1)
• Most EU member countries started their digital TV
deployment with or without access service provisions.
• Some high-end manufacturers have started using “panEuropean” platforms with minor localisations in their own
versions of middleware.
• Private Subscription Operators managed to implement access
services
← in full control throughout the delivery chain (content production –
broadcasting – receivers)
• Public Broadcasters may not be in the same position
← not in control of the receivers (Set-Top-Box, Integrated DTV), funding
and resource issues.
Current Situation in EU (2)
ITU
Technical,
Regulatory
Issues **
Radio Frequency
Allocation
** Representations at ITU
could only be done through
a member state.
a joint forum – e.g. DTG (UK)
ITU Member State
Regulatory Bodies
Funding
TV License
Taxes
RF License
Technical
Issues **
Manufacturer
Broadcaster
DigitalEurope
TV Content
EBU
Viewers
Current Situation in EU (3)
• DVB subtitles and audio access services could be available
without drastic changes in transmission.
← DVB and MPEG standard are in place.
• STB may need some changes, but high-end STBs are ready for
access services.
← Production Cycle, Consumer Regulations – need a clear road map
• Some EU member countries managed to implement access
services with a help of a “technical forum” with regulator(s),
broadcasters, manufacturers and user representatives.
– UK: DTG, Nordic Countries: NORDIG… c.f. Japan: ARIB
– Issuing “implementation guidelines”, checking “compliance”
Short Term Road Map
• Need for a “technical forum” with regulator(s), broadcasters,
manufacturers and user representatives.
• Need for a “user forum” – prioritising access services, setting
“quotas” and imposing “quality control”
Mid/Long Term Road Map
• Need to consider “production cycle” for a functionality update
– “reasonable” STB/DTV replacement cycle (every 5 – 10 years)
– 5+ year old products may not be covered – need legal backing
• Need to prepare for “next generation TV” deployment
– New standard / technology deployment (10 – 20 year span)
– Switch over scheme and Switch off planning
>> Mr Nick TANTON of BBC will present on “UK digital switchover support
scheme”
Standardisation Moves
• ITU-T/-R
>> Details will be presented by Mr Peter LOOMS
• Digital Europe
>> Details will be presented by Mr Frank KAMPERMAN of
Digital Europe
• DTG (Digital TV Group – UK) http://www.dtg.org.uk/
UK technical specification for digital terrestrial television (known as the
DTG D-Book) includes receiver requirements for accessibility to
subtitles, audio description and text to speech for both standard
definition and high definition programming.
Workshop Agenda (1)
• Results from Pilots (DTV4All Project Pilot Co-ordinator, Prof
Pilar ORERO – Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)
• Recommendations for mature and emerging access services
(DTV4All Project WP4 Leader, Mr Peter LOOMS – Looms
Consulting)
• Case study "How subtitles for Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB)
should look like? How text service can be made barrier-free
on Hybrid Broadcast Broadband Television (HbbTV)?" (DTV4All
Project, Ms Bettina HEIDKAMP-TCHEGLOFF – Rundfunk BerlinBrandenburg)
Workshop Agenda (2)
• accessible DTV value chain
– Manufacturers perspective (Mr Frank KAMPERMAN,
Philips Consumer Lifestyle Advanced Technology, on behalf
of Digital Europe)
– Users perspective (Ms Mia AHLGREN, Swedish Disability
Federation, on behalf of European Disability Forum)
– Broadcasters perspective (Mr David WOOD, European
Broadcasting Union)
• UK digital switchover support scheme (Mr Nick TANTON, BBC
Switchover Help Scheme)