Groups

As TV technology and services continue to evolve, ensuring they deliver an outstanding experience for every viewer is paramount. The User Experience group explores the future of viewing – from content discovery and personalisation to data and design – balancing innovation with practical, commercially viable solutions. Accessibility is central to this work, with initiatives such as the annual U-Book helping to ensure that all devices, platforms and services are designed to be inclusive and usable by everyone.

The industry’s mouthpiece to legislators on cyber security issues: A key issue for all sectors, cyber security law is business-critical for our industry. From supporting members with current compliance, to shaping and influencing the legislative landscape of the future, this group will ensure TVs are safe, secure and central to the connected home of the future.

As viewing habits shift towards accessing content anytime, anywhere, the industry is navigating a potential transition to IP-based and hybrid delivery systems. This group takes a holistic view of the evolving distribution landscape, addressing the challenges and opportunities of diversification while ensuring interoperability, end-to-end quality of experience and universal reach. Its work supports a seamless transition for all stakeholders as new standards, platforms and technologies continue to redefine how television is delivered.

This overarching group leads the work on the D-Book, the technical specification for all UK DTT-based platforms, developing and maintaining the interoperability requirements for broadcast and hybrid receivers. It coordinates and collates the work of all Technical Specification Working Groups and consults with the Technical Strategy Group on any potential impacts on the specification.

The DTG FAST Forum was founded with contributors from across the TV ecosystem and is designed to reflect the dynamic nature of the rapidly-evolving ad-supported sector. Immediate outputs include mapping the UK and EU landscape, followed by a detailed exploration and resulting reports for DTG members clearly identifying current opportunities, challenges and trajectories for the FAST channel route to market from a technology and business perspective.

Interactive Services covers HbbTV and MHEG technology as specified in the D-Book. The DTG´s Interactive Services Working Group maintains the profiles of these technologies and agrees the receiver conformance requirements, including all associated test suites.

Building on insights from the DTG’s IP Advertising: Aligning Tech, Experience and Value report, this nine-month pan-industry initiative brings together stakeholders from across the value chain to accelerate progress toward a scalable, interoperable, and trusted IP-delivered advertising ecosystem.

As the technology landscape becomes ever more sophisticated and nuanced, ensuring content presentation is optimised for each viewer on each device is complex. This group addresses formats, codecs and the impacts of advances such as next generation audio and video to ensure the highest quality content presentation in the most seamless way.

The DTG’s Platform Test Group (PTG) defines conformance requirements for the D-Book not covered by other specialist working groups. This mainly consists of SI/PSI and video, audio and subtitles. The group agrees the test specifications, with implementation and maintenance of test materials overseen by DTG Testing.

Safeguarding quality and production standards for PMSE following 700MHz clearance, this cross-industry group, champions PMSE activity, representing member interests with a united voice to influence government and regulators. It is currently working with its members to ensure PMSE requirements are reflected in European spectrum discussions as well as looking at future technology to support PMSE requirements deployments.

The DTG’s Receiver Requirements Group defines the minimum requirements for a set of hybrid DTT and IP receiver profiles, based on the D-Book specification. These profiles form the basis of Freely and Freeview Play trademark requirements.

The DTG’s RF Group aim is to propose, discuss, and implement RF conformance testing in the D-Book to provide assurance to the DTT industry that receivers can operate successfully in today’s and future spectrum environments.

The DTG’s SI Group defines the profiles of DVB service information used on the platform and fills in the gaps, such as LCNs, where necessary.

From horizon-scanning and technology trends to bleeding edge technical advances, this group draws on the strategic experience of its members, to identify the future game changers. It aligns and directs the focus of each Technical Expert Forum and works with the Platform Steering Group to ensure requirements and specification reflect technology advances.

The UK UHD Forum brings the full UHD TV ecosystem, including international partners, together at the DTG, to discuss, agree and develop the UK requirements for UHD. It ensures there is a common understanding between content providers, platforms, CE manufacturers, retailers and silicon providers to provide a seamless deployment of UHD video, devices, production requirements and next generation audio services.