Opera TV introduces a new EPG designed for the future of content

Launches scalable and modular EPG, the first to support Freeview Play profile

Opera TV, the global market leader in enabling OTT, today revealed a new, modern electronic program guide (EPG) which manufacturers of Smart TVs and set-top boxes can use to transform their end-consumer experiences to address current market trends and requirements.

The first fully scalable and extensible EPG available for manufacturers, Opera TV’s new program guide seamlessly mixes broadcast, live streams and catalog content, while supporting market-specific profiles. Furthermore, underscoring the shift in consumer viewing patterns, the EPG supports catch-up TV in a “backwards EPG” as well as upcoming content in a standard format. Opera TV also announced that the first out-of-the-box market profile to be supported is Freeview Play, the UK’s hybrid platform which brings together live and catch-up content to UK viewers.

The Freeview Play profile of the EPG was developed in close technical collaboration with Digital UK, the company supporting Freeview Play. The EPG fully supports Freeview Play rules and requirements, allowing device manufacturers to deploy a Freeview Play compliant product without requiring their own custom software development. The Opera TV EPG is also fully integrated with the Freeview Play meta-data service and the Freeview Play players.

James Jackson, Technology Director, Digital UK said, “Freeview Play is meeting modern consumers’ desire to move seamlessly between watching live and on-demand with fully integrated guides and menus. Opera TV’s out-of-the-box solution will make it easier than ever for manufacturers to develop Freeview Play products and launch them into the UK market.”

“When we analyzed the market for EPGs, we saw a market that was heavily fragmented, failed to put the modern viewer first, and lacked scalability in a fast-changing industry,” said Aneesh Rajaram, CEO, Opera TV. “We’re proud to introduce a new breed of EPG, one that engages consumers keeping in mind their content consumption habits, while at the same time embracing industry initiatives that will continue to evolve. Manufacturers selecting our EPG can lower the cost of launching such a feature, while gaining time-to-market advantages, especially when launching Freeview Play-certified devices.”

The EPG offers extreme flexibility due to its modular design, building upon the Opera TV SDK and Opera TV’s HbbTV (Hybrid broadcast broadband TV) module. The user interface is fully implemented in HTML5 for rapid customer adaptation, and supports offline use and automatic updates when it comes online.

Visit our booth to see the new EPG in action. Opera TV will showcase it jointly with Digital UK during IBC in Amsterdam from September 14 to 18, 2017. You can find the Opera TV team in Hall 14, Stand A20 at the Amsterdam RAI Exhibition and Congress Centre.

About Opera TV

Opera TV is the market leader in enabling the TV industry’s transition to OTT. The Opera TV portfolio powers rich web experiences on tens of millions of Smart TVs, set-top boxes, Blu-ray Disc players and chipsets for more than 60 customers. The Opera TV ecosystem spans the Opera TV Store app platform with hundreds of entertaining apps tailor-made for TV, the Opera Devices SDK (software development kit) for creating and rendering HTML5-based user interfaces and the Opera TV browser for reaching the full web. Opera TV offers solutions for OEMs, pay-TV operators, broadcasters and content publishers. Visit www.opera.com/tv/ to learn more.

About Digital UK

Digital UK supports digital terrestrial TV (DTT) in the UK. The company provides operational support for the platform, including management of the Freeview electronic programme guide, and leads on developing DTT strategy, working with broadcast partners and industry. Digital UK has led development of Freeview Play, a new hybrid platform bringing together free-to-view DTT and catch-up services in a range of TVs and set-top boxes. Digital UK is owned by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Arqiva.

Media Contact:

Opera TV

Thomas Ford / Phone: +47 4865 4315 / Email: thomas@opera.com

Digital UK

John Craske / Email: John.Craske@freeview.co.uk