SERAPHIC, the leading digital TV browser and “TV+ Internet” solution provider, today announced that it has been able to support the latest HbbTV 2.0.1 specification in its HbbTV solution. To demonstrate HbbTV 2 features, SERAPHIC partners with IRT, a neutral research and competence centre for audiovisual technologies, to showcase ARD Mediathek – the largest catch up TV service in German speaking countries – for mobile devices in a prototype version using the latest HbbTV 2 Companion Screen technologies at Asia’s largest broadcasting exhibition BroadcastAsia2017, taking place at Singapore from May 23-25. It allows users of the ARD Mediathek application to view the contents from the ARD, the largest public-service broadcasting network in Germany, and cast video clips onto HbbTV 2.0 DTV devices.

“This signifies that we’ve stepped into a new stage. HbbTV 2 technologies can finally run on the TV screens in our living rooms and deliver the fascinating hybrid, immersive viewing experience for our customers anytime,” Ye Wang, CEO of SERAPHIC, pointed out.

The latest release of SERAPHIC’s Sraf HbbTV 2 solution supports Companion Screen, Media Synchronization, TTML, Clear Key and other key HbbTV 2 capabilities which allow application developers to extend user viewing beyond traditional screens in the living rooms and incorporate additional options to deliver a richer, immersive experience for consumers, which best fits the current fragmented time situation.

Wang also reveals that SERAPHIC’s HbbTV 2 solution has been proved with “superb performance” on mainstream DTV and STB chipset platforms such as ALi, Broadcom, MStar, etc. “It saves integration efforts of device manufacturers and therefore could enable them to accelerate time-to-market,” Wang adds.

Klaus Merkel, HbbTV project coordinator at IRT, commented, “As central research and competence centre, IRT is supporting broadcasters, TV and STB manufacturers to develop novel services for connected TVs, namely the HbbTV platform, by offering trainings, implementing prototype applications and testing services.” For the HbbTV 2 companion screen showcase with SERAPHIC, IRT provided test material and an HbbTV 2 enabled prototype of the Android version for ARD Mediathek, that was developed with German public broadcaster ARD and is envisaged as the basis for one of the first HbbTV 2 services in Germany.

“SERAPHIC is always seeking for close collaborations with industry partners in the fast developing HbbTV area. We are delighted to work with IRT and lead a successful cooperation case through joint efforts and effective communication. We promise that SERAPHIC will take further actions to deliver more support to HbbTV application developers in the latest HbbTV 2 device technologies side, with more flexible approaches,” Wang said.

BCA attendees can experience a demonstration of the latest integration from HbbTV SERAPHIC’s booth (Stand 4D3-06) at Suntec, Singapore, May 23 – 25, 2017.

About SERAPHIC

SERAPHIC Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. is dedicated to providing internet-related software and web-based solutions to all those TV-/Video-related terminal devices including Smart TVs, set-top boxes, over-the-top devices, game consoles, etc. SERAPHIC’s product offering includes TV Browser for HTML5, HbbTV, Freeview Play, YouTube TV, TV Portal and Open Browser as well as Web TV solution. The company is located in Shanghai, China and targets at digital TV and consumer electronics markets in Europe, Latin America, Australia and Asia Pacific. For more information about SERAPHIC, please visit www.seraphic-corp.com or send an email to info@seraphic-corp.com.

About IRT

IRT is a neutral research and competence centre for audiovisual technologies. It explores, observes and develops new technologies with the aim to strategically adapt broadcasting to new market environments and needs. Around 100 employees do research on the premise in Munich in close cooperation with partners and clients for innovative solutions in the research areas of new audio-visual formats, cross-media technologies, metadata, cloud production, all IP/IT, smart data, hybrid radio and TV, security, multi-platform, 5G, frequencies and network planning and IP distribution.

Its shareholders are the public broadcasters ARD, ZDF, Deutschlandradio, ORF and SRG / SSR. In addition, IRT collaborates with numerous clients in the sectors of broadcasting, media and industry. Its cooperation with international research partners offer access to global trends and developments. In its work with universities, IRT supports the training of junior staff, who actively involved in research projects. With more than 60 years of experience, IRT is a pioneer of audiovisual media technology in a modern society. For more information about IRT, please visit https://www.irt.de/en/home/.