Switch Media powers new HbbTV service in Australia

Launched in April this year, Freeview Australia’s new integrated Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV) service provides viewers with a large catalogue of free-to-air (FTA) content across more than 35 channels. 

The streamlined viewing experience also provides access to free video-on-demand (VoD) content of more than 50,000 individual programmes and episodes from back catalogues, as well as current programmes and digital exclusives.

Freeview Australia’s HbbTV service is supported by Switch Media’s MediaHQ online video platform, which provides support for HbbTV 2.0. One of the key user experience features is the service’s always-on “miniguide” and electronic programme guide (EPG), which replace traditional Smart TV built-in EPG guides with Freeview’s enhanced version. 

Viewers can not only navigate the broadcast schedule more easily but also browse and search for thousands of VoD titles including entire TV series, made available by Freeview’s member FTA broadcasters, at no cost to the viewer.

Matt Moran, Engagement Director, Switch Media said, “We’ve been working with HbbTV specifications for many years, and we have the knowledge to maximise the features available.

It’s a complex process that we can significantly simplify for broadcasters and platforms so that they can deliver a sophisticated HbbTV service across as many devices as possible.”