Press Release

8 October 2009

Open IPTV Forum continues its technical evolution with the public release of the Profiles Specification for Release 1

The Open IPTV Forum (OIPF) is pleased to announce the publication of the Profiles specification for its Release 1 Solution. This specification is accompanied by a revision (Version 1.1) of its seven-volume Release 1 IPTV Solution specification, originally published in January 2009. All OIPF specifications are freely available for download from the Publications section of the Forum website www.oipf.tv.

The Open IPTV Forum Release 1 Version 1.1 IPTV Solution provides the specification for an end-to-end platform for the deployment of the set of Release 1 IPTV Services. The Open IPTV Forum has developed an end-to-end solution to allow any consumer end-device, compliant to the Open IPTV Forum specifications, to access enriched and personalised IPTV services either in a managed or a non-managed network. Version 1.1 of the Release 1 Solution includes updates, clarifications and corrections compared to the previous version, resulting from extensive review and feedback from implementers of the specification.

The Release 1 Version 1.1 IPTV Solution specification provides multiple options for some features. The Profiles specification complements the IPTV Solution specification by defining OIPF implementation and deployment profiles that remove uncertainty about what features are required in an implementation.

The Profiles specification defines three profiles, progressively adding functionality from within the IPTV Solution specification:

• The Open Internet Profile, which is intended for "over-the-top" services that do not utilise any  terminal management features, to deliver on-demand and interactive services;
• The Baseline Managed Profile, which adds support for the Scheduled Content and Streamed CoD (Content on Demand) services making use of certain managed-network capabilities for content delivery.
• The Enhanced Managed Profile, which adds native support for advanced converged services and networks, through features such as IMS (IP Multimedia System) and Technical Reference-069 based remote management, among others.

Any implementation based on the Release 1 IPTV Solution specification must adhere to one of these profiles in order to claim Open IPTV Forum compliance. Please note that the names of these profiles are used for purposes of technical documentation and as such are not intended to be used for any logo mark or similar purpose.

It is expected that the Profiles specification will be used as a key input to the interoperability and certification programs that will be defined for the Release 1 Solution by the Open IPTV Forum Version 1.1 of the Release 1 Solution includes updates, clarifications and corrections compared to the previous version, resulting from extensive review and feedback from implementers of the specification. The Profiles specification complements the Release 1 IPTV Solution specification by defining OIPF implementation and deployment profiles that remove uncertainty about what features are required in an implementation. Early implementations of equipment based on these profiles are expected to be used at the OIPF Interoperability Event in November 2009.

According to Yun Chao Hu, Chair of the OIPF, "This is a major step for the Open IPTV Forum as it brings us one step closer to the reality of having implementations of our specifications. With almost all the major CE vendors represented in the Forum, we have every expectation that we shall see the Forum's specifications implemented in CE devices in the coming years. I am particularly pleased to note that the Open Internet Profile is an industry first, in defining a standard way to access media portals on the Internet."

For further information about this news release, please contact: Claire d'Esclercs at [email protected]

NOTES FOR EDITORS

IPTV (Internet Protocol Television or Interactive Personalised Television) is a system where a digital television service is delivered using Internet Protocol over a network infrastructure, which may include delivery by a broadband connection. A general definition of IPTV is television content that, instead of being delivered through traditional broadcast and cable formats, is received by the viewer through the technologies used for computer networks. With IPTV, the television screen becomes a means of communication, allowing the viewer to interact with the service. It will have numerous applications, for example, in video on demand, shopping, for special needs, quiz shows, voting in television shows etc.

The Open IPTV Forum is fully open to participants from across the communications and entertainment industries, and brings together network operators, content providers, service providers, consumer electronics manufacturers and home and network infrastructure providers. The members of the Open IPTV Forum are working together on the development of open specifications because they recognise that combining the expertise of all involved will help to streamline and accelerate deployments of IPTV technologies. Their aim is to make the next generation of IPTV a mass market service and to maximise the benefits of IPTV for consumers as well as the industry.

Release 1 Solution Version 1.1
The Forum has published its Release 1 Solution. This specification consists of seven volumes:

This is supplemented by the Release 1 Profiles Specification

 These specifications are freely available from the Forum's website, www.oipf.tv.

 For further information about the Forum: visit http://www.oipf.tv