GENEVA, SWITZERLAND ?– The HbbTV Association announced a new licensing initiative Tuesday with the hopes that it will help create greater awareness of the the HTML5-based hybrid TV standard.
The organization said it will license the HbbTV logo to consumer electronics manufacturers that sell HbbTV devices. Vendors will be able to use the logo on their device as well as on their print and web promotional materials.
In order to receive approval to use the HbbTV logo, a manufacturer's HbbTV device must pass the association's certification process for compatibility, which is done either through self-testing or at a registered test centre.
"Using the HbbTV Logo is an excellent way for consumer device manufacturers to demonstrate HbbTV certification and interoperability," said Klaus Illgner, HbbTV Association chair, in a release.
"As the standard continues to gain momentum around the world, our logo will become more familiar to consumers enjoying a connected television experience based on HbbTV ? including compelling catch-up TV, news apps, and other innovative services," said Illgner.
The logo licensing initiative is one of the first major marketing efforts undertaken by the HbbTV consortium since it hired Canadian digital TV industry expert Kirk Edwardson of Espial in June to co-chair the association's marketing group.
The HbbTV standard provides the industry with an open and business-neutral technology platform that seamlessly combines TV services delivered via broadcast with services delivered via broadband, in addition to enabling access to Internet-only services on connected TVs and set-top boxes.
The standard is already deployed in various European countries including Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. The association says a large majority of all connected TV sets sold in Western Europe implement the HbbTV standard. Future HbbTV deployments have also been announced in Europe, Australia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
