Standards for iTV and IPTV
Within the iTV arena though it is critical that those involved in operational services are involved in defining the scope of any emerging standard. We all need to have input into and be engaged with or help define key iTV standards such as MPEG 4/7/21, MHP. tvCSS, TVML, WML, TV Anytime and many others. These standards describe either the formats, presentation, delivery or functionality of iTV and people with a core understanding of the requirements of the technology are critical. IBC, ATCS and NAB are some conferences that allow producers to keep abreast of latest developments.
There were a range of standards bodies at NAB 2004 that are helping the industry move forward by aiding interoperability:-
* TV-Anytime again announced published personal TV standards in conjunction with the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). We can hope one day that DVR’s worldwide would use the same standard so content can find viewers in a controlled and protected way.
* DiMA (Digital Media Association) very active in helping the advertising industry get to grips with advanced consumer devices and networks.
* Liberty Alliance working on identity protection and privacy issues across all networks announced liaisons with other standards bodies
* The AAF (Advanced Authoring Format) Association still very active in promoting a cross network file format so that all digital media can be exchanged across TV, web, post-production, consumer devices etc: They had impressive demos with Adobe and Microsoft.
* The Interactive TV Alliance based in Santa Monica pulled together an remarkable range of people and companies to the Interactive TV pavilion and a wonderful super session “Next Generation Advertising”
* The pro-MPEG forum announced that MXF (material exchange format) had come of age with many professional manufacturers (notably Sony) now adoption this file format to allow aduio, video and metadata to flow seamlessly through the process of filming, post-production and eventually mapped onwards for the consumer. SMPTE and EBU have now rubber stamped the MXF (brief guide) format.
* In a world of ‘too much content to handle’ the Digital Asset Management Pavilion provided some panacea. The Global Society of Asset Management (G-Sam) are paving the way through a confused industry sector.