Accessibility solutions with HbbTV

The first HbbTV webinar after the summer holiday break focuses on improving accessibility through HbbTV-based solutions. The session features use case examples from several European markets, a look at the upcoming EBU guideline for access services with HbbTV and future improvements, for example through bridging TV devices and apps, new features and specification updates.

Presenters
Olivia May, Head of Product Development, Freeview Play
Klaus Merkel, Senior Engineer, Distribution, rbb
Nigel Moore, Senior Manager, TV Engineering, Sony Europe

Agenda
• Freeview Play HbbTV Accessible TV Guide: use case examples, experiences, future plans
• Examples of how HbbTV can be used today to provide accessibility features
• The EBU guideline for access services with HbbTV
• Improvements in future specification updates
• Q&A

Moderator
Jörn Krieger, Freelance Journalist

Presenters’ Biographies
Olivia May currently leads Product Development at Freeview Play (Digital UK). Olivia joined Freeview Play from Youview where she was in Product Management with a focus on future media initiatives and platform strategy. Before Youview she worked as a consultant at PA Consulting, OC&C and Curzon Consulting for Sky on strategy and organisational projects.

Klaus Merkel joined rbb in April 2021 and actively contributes to the development of the standard and its practical application. From 1991-2021 Klaus had been employed at IRT where he was engaged in working groups for the definition and market introduction of open and interoperable platforms for interactive TV. He was deeply involved in the launch phase of HbbTV in 2009.

Nigel Moore is a Senior Manager in Sony Europe’s TV Engineering group, looking at technologies and features that can be brought into future TV products. One of his main focus areas is HbbTV, and Nigel is active in the Specification, Requirements and Steering groups. He also chairs HbbTV’s Licensing working group. Nigel started working at Sony in 2002, having previously been Technology VP for a streaming media start-up venture.

Replay
A recording of the 1-hour webinar is available on our YouTube channel.

PDF presentation downloads
Olivia May, Freeview Play (Digital UK)
Klaus Merkel, rbb
Nigel More, Sony Europe