News & Insight   Press Release

HbbTV expands Developer Portal

Geneva, July 28, 2023 – The HbbTV Association has updated its Developer Portal with two new sections: The blog and FAQ provide additional insights to developers of HbbTV applications.

The first blog post focuses on practical experiences when using the MPEG-DASH streaming protocol and the ISO base media file format (ISOBMFF) with HbbTV terminals. The second post contains a practical guide on handling the broadcast a/v object.

The first FAQ items provide details on avoiding typical pitfalls when developing HbbTV applications, national certification schemes, PlayReady client security levels and dash.js as well as the Fast Media Switch API and the switchMediaPresentation method.

Both sections will be regularly updated with new entries.

Developers are welcome to contribute items or subjects to the Developer Portal, share their experiences and discuss technical matters, both on GitHub and in the forum. The links and contact details can be found here.

The Developer Portal, which the HbbTV Association launched in March 2022, targets software developers looking for an introductory guide on how to programme and run HbbTV applications. The free service complements the comprehensive resources and specification details on the HbbTV website, making it easier for broadcasters, platform operators and app development partners to create compelling HbbTV applications, ensuring a great TV viewing experience.

Besides basic guidelines, the portal also contains technical information for advanced users. Tutorials explain functions such as setting up an on-screen message, handling the audio/video broadcast signal, interacting with the remote control or running an HbbTV application on a hybrid terminal.

The Developer Portal also includes documentation of the API reference, a resource section with details on the HbbTV DASH/DRM reference application, the HbbTV Test Suite, the hbbtv-dvbstream project and other tools, and a section with the latest news on the HbbTV specifications.

The HbbTV Developer Portal was initiated by the HbbTV Association’s Marketing and Education Working Group (MEWG) and developed by App Stream, a software development company based in Zagreb, Croatia, in collaboration with experts from the HbbTV Association.

August 5, 2026

Built-in vs In-App DASH Players: Which approach is right for HbbTV?

Should your HbbTV application use the television's native DASH player or an in-app JavaScript player such as dash.js? Based on a lively unconference session at the 2025 HbbTV Symposium, this article explores the trade-offs, deployment strategies and practical considerations that influence this important architectural decision.

  READ MORE

August 3, 2026

HbbTV and DVB-I: Complementary standards driving the next generation of television

Based on an HbbTV webinar featuring broadcasters, manufacturers and technology experts, this article explores how HbbTV and DVB-I are being deployed together in Germany, Italy, New Zealand and Australia. Discover the latest market developments, practical deployment experiences and why the two complementary standards are shaping the future of television.

  READ MORE

July 9, 2026

From unconference to implementation: How HbbTV Symposium 2025 ideas are becoming reality

How have the ideas from the 2025 HbbTV Symposium unconference evolved? This article, based on a follow-up HbbTV Association webinar, explores the progress made across AI, All-IP, accessibility, sustainability, testing, interactive advertising and TV shopping, highlighting how collaborative discussions are becoming real-world deployments, standards work and industry innovation.

  READ MORE

July 7, 2026

Kineton International Plugfest & HbbTV Testing Event 2026 Report

The International Plugfest & HbbTV Testing Event 2026 brought the global HbbTV community together in Naples for a week of interoperability testing, technical collaboration and knowledge sharing. Hosted by Kineton in partnership with the HbbTV Association, the event focused on validating the latest HbbTV, DVB-I, UHD, NGA and HDMI implementations while helping to prepare the upcoming HbbTV Test Suite v2026-2.

  READ MORE

March 30, 2026

Audience measurement and analytics with HbbTV Webinar: from panels to precision

Based on insights from a recent HbbTV webinar, this article explores how hybrid measurement combines panel data with large-scale device insights. Real-world deployments in Spain, Austria and the UK show improved accuracy, reduced zero ratings and new monetisation models, helping broadcasters compete in an increasingly data-driven and outcome-focused media landscape.

  READ MORE