FreeviewHDTM Launches In New Zealand With MHEG-5 Technology From S&T

Strategy & Technology (S&T), specialists in interactive TV playout systems and MHEG-5 middleware, has announced that it has extended its relationship with New Zealand free-to-air platform Freeview. S&T's MHEG-5 interactive playout technology has been exclusively deployed for the launch of the new DTT/HD version of the service FreeviewHDTM.
Friday April 14 saw Freeview - which launched across the country last year with a satellite service - begin its DTT/HD service, branded as FreeviewHDTM. The new DTT platform is the first live service in the world to use the MHEG-5 middleware technology with MPEG-4 AVC compression.
At launch FreeviewHDTM consists of three HD channels - TVONE, TV2 and TV3 as well as a bouquet of SD channels. TVNZ will also be broadcasting this year's Beijing Olympics in HD. In total, there are 10 TV channels and two radio services with the number of broadcasters on the platform expected to grow over the the coming months.
S&T has supplied six of its TSBroadcaster/TSPlayer Object Carousel generation and playout systems to the multiplex operators to play out content and signalling for interactive television applications.
Colin Prior, Director of International Sales, S&T, explained: "The service is also using S&T's MHEG EPG application that provides an eight-day listing service with a consistent look and feel regardless of which receiver manufacturer supplies reception equipment. We are also supplying receiver manufacturers operating in the New Zealand market with our RedKey TM MHEG-5 middleware engine."
FreeviewHDTM will cover approximately 75% of NZ homes in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Palmerston North, Napier, Hastings, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
Steve Browning, General Manager of Freeview, said: "Using a world-first combination of technologies has allowed us to extend the service that we provide into the HDTV world. It will change the way that Kiwis access and enjoy television and radio programmes."
Strategy & Technology Ltd is a specialist company building and implementing technology based on international standards in digital TV. It is a leading independent company in the industry sector that supports the MHEG interactive TV standard and provides complete interactive applications and systems for broadcasters and manufacturers worldwide.
Further information is available at: www.s-and-t.com.
(KMcA/JM)