CCMA Publish Its HbbTV Subtitling Software as Open Source

Barcelona, Spain, October 21, 2016 --(PR.com)-- The software, which is now publicly shared as open source, allows printing subtitles over video using the EBU-TT-D standard, regardless of the player and the version of the TV Standard HbbTV. The open source code and a use case example can be found on the GitHub platform, specializing in open source under licenses for unrestricted reuse. CCMA also published details of the operation of its subtitling service in a dedicated HbbTV developer’s portal, the HbbTV-developer. Thus, the code is opened to professionals who want to develop subtitling systems that use the same technical standards.

HbbTV (Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV) is the European standard for interactivity on SmartTV’s, driven initially by European broadcasters and supported by the EBU. This standard was created to provide an interactivity system based on free competition between broadcasters and easily accessible via the red button on the remote control.

HBB4ALL European project addresses media accessibility for all citizens in general and specially for impaired people in the connected TV environment and aims to harness the potential of new technologies to meet their demands.

The CCMA has always been at the forefront in accessibility services on all its audio-visual platforms. In the last year, within the framework of the European research project HBB4ALL, CCMA has improved its TV3alacarta VoD HbbTV service with custom subtitles, audio description and original sound track contents. This is one more step in the commitment of the CCMA towards universal access to content, aimed to push the widespread accessibility services among all actors involved in the global television market through HbbTV.

The HBB4ALL (Hybrid Broadcast Broadband for All) European project is co-funded by the European Commission under the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Program (CIP) and promoted by a consortium of 12 European partners including: universities (UAB and UPM), TV broadcasters (CCMA, RBB, RTP and Swiss TXT), research institutes (IRT and Vicomtech), and accessibility business experts (VSonix, Screen Subtitling Systems, People's Playground and Holken Consultants & Partners).