Digital TV Group
 |
 | |
| Industry | Digital TV, technology, television, standards |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1995 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom, Vauxhall, London, England |
Area served | UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ghana and Europe |
Key people |
|
| Website | www |
The DTG (Digital TV Group) is the association for British digital television broadcasters. The DTG publish and maintain the technical specifications for digital terrestrial television (DTT) in the United Kingdom, which is known as the D-Book[1] and is used by Freeview, Freeview HD and YouView. The association consists of over 120 UK and international members[2] who can participate in DTG activities to varying degrees, depending on their category of membership.
About
The DTG publish and maintain the D-Book, the technical foundation of the United Kingdom's Freeview, Freeview HD, Freesat and YouView television platforms – covering 95% of UK homes with a digital TV.[3] It also actively encourages and supports the development of Sky, Virgin Media, BT TV, TalkTalk, Connect-TV and VuTV.
History
The DTG was formed in 1995 by the BBC, BSkyB, BT Group, Channel 4, ITV (TV network) NTL Incorporated, Pace and Sony to set technical standards for the implementation of digital terrestrial television in the UK.
From these initial eight members, the DTG has grown to include over 120 UK and international members and played a decisive role in the success of the UK television industry.[4]
Current work
The DTG, working with its members, has identified six priority television technologies to pursue and bring to fruition with the maximum benefit. These are:
- Ultra high definition: creating a revolution in next-generation TV definition, not a resolution, working through the DTG UK UHD Forum.[5]
- Digital terrestrial television: maintenance of the technical specification (D-Book).[6]
- Video-to-mobile: improving the efficiency of delivery and the consumer experience of streaming video on portable devices using mobile data.[7]
- Spectrum: driving full value by managing change/coexistence through supporting the introduction of new services.[8]
- Connected TV: developing industry-wide ad insertion and home-networking solutions.[9]
- Accessibility: improving the experience of TV for viewers with accessibility requirements.[10]
Membership
The DTG is a membership association with four categories of membership:[11]
- Full Member for organisations who are active in the UK market.
- New Entrant for new organisations in their first two years of operation.
- World Member for organisations who are interested in, but not active, in the UK market.
- Affiliate Member for charities, governments and regulators with an interest in the UK market and/or technical aspects of the television industry.
DTG Testing
The DTG owns and operates DTG Testing, an ISO 17025 accredited test laboratory in Central London.[12] DTG Testing ensures that digital television products in the United Kingdom conform to the D-Book specification[13] – a requirement of obtaining the Freeview trade mark licence.[14]
DTG Testing also provide access to:
- the UK’s over-air download channel[15]
- a receiver collection (The Zoo[16]) representing 95% of the UK's deployed free-to-air receivers
- the Test and Innovation Centre,[17] incorporating the UK's largest commercial GTEM Cell.[18]
- Consultancy[19]
- Training[20]
The D-Book
 | This section needs to be updated. (August 2016) |
The DTG publishes and maintains the D-Book, which provides the detailed interoperability specification for digital terrestrial television in the United Kingdom with extended Connected TV functionality. D-Book provides the baseline specification that YouView, Sky, Virgin Media and others can build on for trademark requirements to support their services.
Full members, who are active in the UK market, contribute to the evolution of the D-Book through the DTG's Working Groups[21] which reflects the full diversity of interests within the UK digital television industry, which is regarded as leading the world in television technology.[4]
Collectively, these Working Groups provide for the industry-approved introduction of new solutions and services to the D-Book, currently on its seventh iteration, D-Book 7.[22] D-Book 8 is due to be published in late 2014 or early 2015, containing support for the forthcoming Freeview Connected platform, a profile for tablet computer DTT receivers, and preparations to smooth the potential 700 MHz clearance.[23]
See also
References
- ^ "What is the D-Book?". Digital TV Group, Technical, DTT. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
- ^ "Current DTG Members". Digital TV Group membership website. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
- ^ "Facts & Figures". Facts & Figures. Ofcom. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
- ^ a b Vaizey, Ed (20 May 2014). "Ed Vaizey Speech to Digital TV Group Summit 2014". Ed Vaizey MP announcements. Department for Culture, Media & Sport and Ed Vaizey MP. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
- ^ http://dtg.org.uk/work/ultrahd.html
- ^ http://dtg.org.uk/work/dtt.html
- ^ http://dtg.org.uk/work/mobile.html
- ^ http://dtg.org.uk/work/spectrum.html
- ^ http://dtg.org.uk/work/ctv.html
- ^ http://dtg.org.uk/work/accessibility.html
- ^ http://dtg.org.uk/dtg/membershipcategories.html
- ^ DTG Testing
- ^ http://www.dtgtesting.com/content/conformance-product-testing
- ^ http://www.dtgtesting.com/content/obtain-freeview-logos
- ^ http://www.dtgtesting.com/content/over-air-downloads
- ^ http://www.dtgtesting.com/content/dtg-testing-receiver-collection-welcome-zoo
- ^ http://www.dtgtesting.com/content/wireless-test-and-innovation-centre
- ^ http://www.dtgtesting.com/content/gtem-cell-hire
- ^ http://www.dtgtesting.com/content/consulting-services
- ^ http://www.dtgtesting.com/content/dtg-testing-training
- ^ "DTG Groups". Digital TV Group Working Groups. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
- ^ "D-Book 7 published". Digital TV Group news. DTG staff. 1 April 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
- ^ "The DTG starts work on the next-generation free-to-air technical specification to support Freeview Connected and prepare for a possible 700 MHz clearance". Digital TV Group News. DTG Staff. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
