Digital TV Group

DTG
Industry Digital TV, technology, television, standards
Founded 1995
Headquarters London, United Kingdom, Vauxhall, London, England
Area served
 UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ghana and Europe
Key people
  • David Docherty (Chairman)
  • Richard Lindsay-Davies (CEO)
Website www.dtg.org.uk

At the DTG, the best of TV industry has been collaborating for over twenty years to advance UK Digital TV. That’s included driving the digital TV switchover, making interactive TV happen, rolling out on-demand TV, and introducing HDTV and UHD TV. The DTG (Digital TV Group) is the association for British digital television broadcasters and annually publish and maintain the technical specifications for digital terrestrial television (DTT) in the United Kingdom, which is known as the D-Book[1] and is used by Freeview, Freeview HD, FreeSat and YouView. The association consists of over 120 UK and international members[2] who can participate in DTG activities to varying degrees, depending on their category of membership. The DTG continues to collaborate and work towards the future of television in the UK.

About

The DTG is the UK’s unique, self-funding centre for innovation in digital media technology. Since 1995, it has been central to the distribution of TV in the UK – digital TV, interactive TV, the digital TV switchover, on-demand TV, HDTV and UHD TV. The DTG underpins the free-to-air platforms Freeview, Freesat and YouView, and supports the development of pay-TV and other platforms. The DTG are now working towards the future of television – embracing the convergence of content and networks to efficiently deliver video to all screens, in all formats.

History

The DTG was formed in 1995 by the BBC, BSkyB, BT Group, Channel 4, ITV (TV network) NTL Incorporated, Pace and Sony to set technical standards for the implementation of digital terrestrial television in the UK.

From these initial eight members, the DTG has grown to include over 120 UK and international members and played a decisive role in the success of the UK television industry.[3]

Current work

The DTG, working with its members, has identified six priority television technologies to pursue and bring to fruition with the maximum benefit. These are:

  • Ultra high definition: creating a revolution in next-generation TV definition, not a resolution, working through the DTG UK UHD Forum.[4]
  • Digital terrestrial television: maintenance of the technical specification (D-Book).[5]
  • Video-to-mobile: improving the efficiency of delivery and the consumer experience of streaming video on portable devices using mobile data.[6]
  • Spectrum: driving full value by managing change/coexistence through supporting the introduction of new services.[7]
  • Connected TV: developing industry-wide ad insertion and home-networking solutions.[8]
  • Accessibility: improving the experience of TV for viewers with accessibility requirements.[9]

Membership

The DTG is a membership association with four categories of membership:[10]

  1. Full Member for organisations who are active in the UK market.
  2. New Entrant for new organisations in their first two years of operation.
  3. World Member for organisations who are interested in, but not active, in the UK market.
  4. Affiliate Member for charities, governments and regulators with an interest in the UK market and/or technical aspects of the television industry.

DTG Testing

The DTG isn’t just a centre of innovation for UK digital TV. DTG Testing is a vital resource for the TV and IP industries and a trusted partner to the regulators. The team works daily to maintain standards across digital TV platforms so retailers and broadcasters know they are working with certified manufacturers and devices they can trust. Each year DTG technical experts produce real-world test reports, white papers, best practice guidelines and the D-Book, the definitive list of specifications for UK digital TV. The Zoo at DTG Testing is the UK’s only comprehensive testing and accreditation centre for digital TV devices and services.

The DTG owns and operates DTG Testing, an ISO 17025 accredited test laboratory in Central London.[11] DTG Testing ensures that digital television products in the United Kingdom conform to the D-Book specification[12] – a requirement of obtaining the Freeview trade mark licence.[13]

DTG Testing also provide access to:

  • the UK’s over-air download channel[14]
  • a receiver collection (The Zoo[15]) representing 95% of the UK's deployed free-to-air receivers
  • the Test and Innovation Centre,[16] incorporating the UK's largest commercial GTEM Cell.[17]
  • Consultancy[18]
  • Training[19]

The D-Book

The DTG has published the D-Book since 1996, updating the specification annually to keep apace of the development of UK DTT. The D-Book defines the DTT platforms in the UK and provides requirements for interoperability in clear, unambiguous language. Based on international standards it is produced by a collaborative approach of industry experts. Where appropriate it delivers harmonisation with other international bodies, enabling manufacturers and service providers to deliver products to market.

The DTGs D-Book 10, published November 2017, provides support on the development of HD products and services, with the introduction of Single Frequency Network (SFN) support for the migration of COM 7&8 DVB-T2 multiplexes into the 700MHz band. Also included is an IP Software Upgrade Option in response to the requirements of manufacturers handling software upgrades to todays complex TVs, which avoids the need for SSU Broadcast updates.

D-Book 10 covers a range of new topics and continues to support all UK DTT-based platforms including Freeview Play, Freeview HD, YouView, EETV, Now TV and the UK DSAT platform, Freesat, as well as several international adaptations. DTT delivers to the largest viewing audience and remains fundamental to the distribution of content and entertainment.

The industrys not-for-profit test centre, DTG Testing, continues to offer conformance tests and testing services in support of Freeview HD, and Freeview Play and HbbTV. and D-Book 10 Conformance Tests will be available in April 2018. We will continue our work to ensure European harmonisation wherever possible while meeting the needs of the dynamic and successful UK TV market.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "What is the D-Book?". Digital TV Group, Technical, DTT. 2014-08-12. Retrieved 2014-08-12.
  2. ↑ "Current DTG Members". Digital TV Group membership website. 2014-08-12. Retrieved 2014-08-12.
  3. ↑ Vaizey, Ed (2014-05-20). "Ed Vaizey Speech to Digital TV Group Summit 2014". Ed Vaizey MP announcements. Department for Culture, Media & Sport and Ed Vaizey MP. Retrieved 2014-08-12.
  4. ↑ http://dtg.org.uk/work/ultrahd.html
  5. ↑ http://dtg.org.uk/work/dtt.html
  6. ↑ http://dtg.org.uk/work/mobile.html
  7. ↑ http://dtg.org.uk/work/spectrum.html
  8. ↑ http://dtg.org.uk/work/ctv.html
  9. ↑ http://dtg.org.uk/work/accessibility.html
  10. ↑ http://dtg.org.uk/dtg/membershipcategories.html
  11. ↑ "Home | DTG Testing". www.dtgtesting.com. Retrieved 2018-03-07.
  12. ↑ "Conformance product testing | DTG Testing". www.dtgtesting.com. Retrieved 2018-03-07.
  13. ↑ "Obtain Freeview logos | DTG Testing". www.dtgtesting.com. Retrieved 2018-03-07.
  14. ↑ http://www.dtgtesting.com/content/over-air-downloads
  15. ↑ http://www.dtgtesting.com/content/dtg-testing-receiver-collection-welcome-zoo
  16. ↑ http://www.dtgtesting.com/content/wireless-test-and-innovation-centre
  17. ↑ "GTEM Cell Hire | DTG Testing". www.dtgtesting.com. Retrieved 2018-03-07.
  18. ↑ http://www.dtgtesting.com/content/consulting-services
  19. ↑ "DTG Testing Training | DTG Testing". www.dtgtesting.com. Retrieved 2018-03-07.
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