ABU leads way in hybrid technology learning

The ABU is leading the way in helping its members make the most of new hybrid broadcasting technologies.

The Union’s Technology Department held a workshop in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Integrated Broadcast Broadband (IBB) and Over-the-Top (OTT) Services from 30 September to 2 October 2014.

More than 60 participants from 16 countries shared their experiences during 12 sessions over three days covering a variety of technologies, infrastructures and services connected with IBB and OTT. Participants valued the sharing of broadcasters’ experiences of operating OTT services and technologies that could support hybrid broadcast-broadband services.

Director of ABU Technology Dr Amal Punchihewa said that through its partnerships, the ABU attracted six industry speakers and four speakers from the Union’s broadcast membership. He provided an introduction to three key IBB technologies – HbbTV, Hybridcast and OHTV, and services such as catch-up, on-demand and live streaming that could be offered through the Internet. 

“The challenges faced by broadcasters in planning and implementing OTT services were discussed extensively,” he said. “The complexity of monetising was highlighted by an industry speaker reinforcing the diversity in ABU membership in the Asia-Pacific Region. Industry speakers also presented the roles that cloud service providers could play in providing OTT services.”

This was the second workshop in the series on OTT and IBB that started in November 2013.