- DVB-I unifies channels across connected devices with regulated listings and consistent EPG.
- The Spanish pilot program lasts nine months and involves broadcasters, manufacturers, and regulators.
- Advanced features: pause, resume, on-demand, and improved quality over IP.
- Free-to-air DTT is maintained and prominence on television in the EU is pursued.
The way we watch TV is changing rapidly, and in Spain, this transformation now has a name: The Spanish DVB-I Pilot promoted by RTVE and FORTAThis technological test aims to verify whether a European standard can become the key to offering free-to-air television, with the agility of the Internet, without an antenna, without retuning and with functions that we already associate with streaming.
The movement is not minor: The objective is to improve the visibility, access, relevance and “prominence” of audiovisual content, while maintaining the essence of free DTT for all citizens. All of this is articulated within the so-called "Compostela Agreement," the collaborative framework between RTVE and FORTA that provides shelter for this pioneering initiative in our country.
What is DVB-I and why it matters
To understand the scope of the pilot, it is important to clarify what DVB-I is. DVB-I is an open specification from the DVB Project designed for the discovery of audiovisual services and programme metadata on connected devices.In practice, it defines how a TV or Internet-enabled display finds, sorts, and displays channels and content, whether they come via IP or traditional networks (terrestrial, satellite, or cable).
The key is that DVB-I provides a “request-response” mechanism against service listing registrations. Thanks to this, a device can download a sorted list with logical channel numbers (LCN), logos, descriptions and technical parameters to access each service in its different instances, both via the Internet and radio frequency.
The standard does not stay in the channel list: It also defines methods and metadata for electronic guides of programming (EPG) and on-demand catalogsThis allows for consistent programming schedules, program listings, and navigation across different networks, which is key when combining linear broadcasts and online distribution into a single experience.
Another differentiating point is its open philosophy: Based on HTTPS and XML, DVB-I can be freely implemented in apps de Smart TV, OS, TVs and browsersFor example, there are how-to guides for installing players and apps on modern TVs, such as learning how to Install Kodi on Smart TV, which facilitates the adoption of these lists and metadata by the end user.
Furthermore, the current ecosystem supports this. HbbTV, the widely deployed hybrid television standard, has been extended to fully support DVB-IAnd in online distribution, it works with technologies like DVB-DASH for adaptive streaming, which allows video quality to be adjusted based on the connection for more stable playback.
The Spanish DVB-I Pilot: scope, steps and deadlines
RTVE and FORTA have presented in Madrid the most ambitious test to date in our country for this standard. The Spanish DVB-I Pilot will last approximately nine months. and is designed to comprehensively assess the system's suitability as a strategic lever for modernizing free-to-air television.
The initiative is not a solo one. Participating are broadcasters, consumer electronics manufacturers, broadcast network operators, technology providers and service managers.And, as observers, the National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) and the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Service join, providing a regulatory and public policy perspective from the outset.
The first milestones have already been defined: Establishment of an Implementation Group, consultation on the experiences of other European pilots, and active contact with manufacturers and suppliersDuring the official presentation, attendees were able to interact with a functional demonstration, allowing them to validate in the field how the different components of the standard behave.
The project's ambition is national, with a focus on bringing together all relevant stakeholders in the audiovisual communication ecosystem, both public and private, with licenses. The stated intention is to maintain the free-to-air DTT model, without paying for connection, while responding to new forms of consumption with complementary content and services.In other words: evolve without giving up universality.
Now, it's important to be clear about expectations. Although the pilot has a nine-month schedule, there is no official date for its general availability to the public.The leap from a technical test to commercial adoption will depend on results, sectoral agreements, and regulatory compliance.
Advantages and functionalities for users and providers
One of the great promises of DVB-I is that combines the best of traditional DTT with the flexibility of streamingIn everyday life, this means viewers could access their favorite channels over the internet, without an antenna or having to retune, with a unified list that behaves like an app.
Regarding functions, The standard opens the door to pausing live broadcasts, resuming them later, accessing on-demand programs, and jumping between devices.. For example, start a content on mobile and continue it on TV, with extended program information just a click away.
There are also benefits to enriching the experience around linear content. Channels can offer additional content, contextual data and expanded information on broadcasts and events., something especially useful for news, sports, culture or educational programming.
Next-generation connectivity adds up. The use of 5G networks can help improve the quality and stability of video distributed over the Internet., reducing outages and improving response to peak demand. In addition to efficient codecs like HEVC (H.265), high definition and even 4K distribution is more technically feasible.
And all this while respecting the nature of free-to-air television. These improvements do not entail any extra cost for viewers: TV remains free.The differential value lies not in imposing a toll, but in providing a more modern and competitive service without compromising the accessibility that characterizes DTT.
- Unified access to channels without antenna or retuning.
- Advanced functions: pause, resume, and on demand.
- extended information and complementary content.
- Best Quality supported by 5G networks and efficient codecs.
Regulatory framework and the challenge of “prominence”
The pilot is not born in a vacuum: It is framed within the European Regulation on Freedom of the Media, with particular attention to the provisions of Article 20 regarding prominence. In practical terms, the question is how to ensure that public and licensed services have a suitable and easily discoverable location on connected TVs.
In this context, DVB-I appears as a possible tool to ensure this prominence in the European environment.Not surprisingly, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has encouraged its members to promote national initiatives, working with licensed private operators who share similar obligations to public broadcasters.
The specification itself incorporates useful concepts for this. Support for “regulated” service lists provides a mechanism for regulators or designated operators to publish lists of trusted, authorized and legitimate channels.. This, combined with logical channel numbers and consistent metadata, makes the user experience orderly and transparent.
Having an open and common standard also reduces friction. By not imposing a closed presentation, DVB-I allows manufacturers and platforms to integrate prominence requirements while respecting their interfaces., while complying with national frameworks that seek to protect pluralism and access to content of general interest.
Spain as a test bed: DTT, plurality and balance
The Spanish context offers a unique laboratory for this evolution. DTT remains the platform with the greatest television consumption by far., which means that any advancement must be integrated without disrupting the accessibility and usage habits of millions of homes.
At once, Spain coexists with different co-official languages and with public and private providers at the national, regional and local levels.This patchwork makes the country an ideal setting to test whether DVB-I helps ensure diversity, order, and discovery in complex supply and coverage environments.
In this line, the pilot pursues a specific goal: Strengthen the position of open providers vis-à-vis global platforms, not through barriers, but by offering a more complete experience aligned with the public's digital habits.
The idea is not to replace traditional DTT, but to intelligently complement it. The model that we seek to preserve is that of free, linear access and without payment per connection., enriched with features and content that place the channels on competitive ground against established OTT services.
If the pilot demonstrates that integration is viable, Operators could offer a robust hybrid experience that respects universality and improves perceived quality.This broadcast and broadband combination is probably the most realistic path for a diverse ecosystem like the Spanish one.
What remains to be known and upcoming milestones
With an expected duration of nine months, the pilot has a reasonable timeframe for technical testing and sector coordination. However, there is no fixed schedule for a general deployment today., something understandable given the technical, regulatory and commercial complexity of the change.
In the short term, The focus is on the Implementation Group, comparison with European pilots, and joint work with manufacturers and suppliers.The quality of that collaboration will determine the ecosystem's maturation: the more aligned the pieces are, the easier it will be to scale.
There are also adoption factors to measure. Public acceptance will be decisive: the promise of “television without an antenna” and without retuning, combined with interactive functions, can improve perception and use.. But the real experience —times of Boot, stability, quality—will be what tips the balance.
On the part of the providers, The challenge is to leverage the standard to enrich your services without fragmenting experiences.Consistent EPGs, logical numbering, comprehensive metadata, and well-integrated additional content will be key to achieving tangible value from day one.
Finally, Coordination with the regulator and public policy will determine how “prominence” is articulatedA clear framework that combines safeguards for pluralism with flexibility for innovation will help manufacturers integrate the standard sustainably.
Looking at the short and medium term, The Spanish DVB-I Pilot puts Spain in a proactive position to modernize DTT without giving up its DNA.If testing confirms its suitability, viewers will gain in simplicity and features, operators will strengthen their relevance, and the market will have an open foundation—DVB-I, HbbTV, and adaptive streaming—capable of competing head-to-head with the OTT universe, while preserving universal, free access to free-to-air television.
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