What is the state of play for Ethernet connectivity to DTT equipment?
“There were not many receivers with Ethernet until the hybrid TV boxes started to turn up. Boxes for BT Vision, Orange TV and Tiscali TV have all obviously got a connection. You can get on demand video through Ethernet, but it is with their managed service. For BT Vision, for example, you have to be subscribed to BT broadband. The box is made specifically for BT, based on a Microsoft platform, and it is all a managed proprietary system. “Now the DTT market is looking to offer Freeview plus a little bit extra, and in particular people are looking at how they can deliver the iPlayer. The way the BBC are trying to position themselves with the iPlayer is a bit like it is on the internet – it does not matter who your service provider is, you can get access. So on the DTT side we are trying to put together a specification for how this can be done. “If everyone did it in a common way, Sony and Panasonic and everyone else can make an Ethernet port on their equipment, and if you wanted to sign
