Television

Local TV portal

The Lokal-TV-Portal is a multi-level interactive application that bundles over 70 local TV stations in one application as a central brand. The Local TV Portal was supported by the Bavarian Regulatory Authority for Commercial Broadcasting (BLM) and developed by Bayerische Medien Technik GmbH (bmt) with the aim of improving the findability and permanent availability of local TV programmes.


It enables local broadcasters with live streams and media libraries to have permanent access to a large part of the television households in Germany, even if they do not have their own satellite or antenna distribution or only have it for a limited period of time.


In addition to a variant for HbbTV, the local TV portal is also available as an app for LG, Samsung, Android TV and Amazon Fire TV.
More about the Local TV Portal


HbbTV Rating Monitor – analysis tool for programme and media planning

The HbbTV Rating Monitor is a new development by bmt, which was supported by the Bavarian Regulatory Authority for Commercial Broadcasting (BLM). It is particularly useful for TV stations whose ratings are not evaluated on a daily basis. The analysis tool provides real-time insights into the number, dwell time and reception paths of the connected HbbTV devices connected to the Internet. In freely adjustable slots, e.g. in 60 second or 15 minute slots, as well as over a freely adjustable period of time, such as the past 24 hours, the previous day or a specific period in the past, the usage can be analysed on a provider-specific basis. The audience measurement complies with all data protection regulations and does not collect any personal data.

More information about the HbbTV Rating Monitor

DVB-I – Unifying the broadcast and streaming experience for all screens

The DVB-I specification is intended to provide video streaming of linear programmes over the Internet as user-friendly and robust as traditional TV broadcasting on TV sets. Standardised by the DVB project the approach offers the ability to deliver linear programmes to any TV set with a media player, including SmartTVs, tablets and smartphones. The features of the specification are structured service lists for uniform user interfaces, low latency and many options for additional services. These can include HbbTV, programme guides, accessible services, genre-based and event channels. In addition, with DVB-I, the IP streams can also be combined with conventional broadcasting systems such as satellite, cable and terrestrial. DVB-I is also to be considered for TV transmission with 5G Broadcast.

The bmt is participating at the German DVB-I Pilot. and supporting working groups of the of the German TV Platform.

The main focus of bmt’s work in the German DVB-I Pilot is the development and operation of the service list aggregator, regionalised service lists and market development and public relations.

The bmt service list aggregator DVB-I EASY has been used for all services in the DVB-I Pilot Germany since the start of phase 2. In addition to the dynamic feed of partial servicelists via a REST interface, this includes an editing function for the service list, for Logic Channel Numbering (LCN) and for the creation of regions.

The DVB-I Pilot Germany was honoured with the IBC Special Innovation Award and the HbbTV Award “Best tool or product for HbbTV service development or delivery” in 2023.

DVB-I Press relaeses

TV for all

Accessibility application

The project “Television for ALL – fully inclusive with HbbTV” was jointly developed and implemented by the Association for Disability and Media (abm), Bayerische Medien Technik GmbH (bmt) and the Institut für Rundfunktechnik (IRT).

The project, which was funded by the Bayerische Landeszentrale für neue Medien (Bavarian regulatory authority for new media, BLM), aims to provide barrier-free access to media content for people with visual or hearing impairments and at the same time enable an inclusive viewing experience together with other family members. Furthermore, on devices that support HbbTV 2.0, a connection of so-called companion devices such as smartphones or augmented reality glasses is achieved, which are synchronised with the TV set.

In this way, a sign language interpreter no longer has to be shown in the television picture, but is displayed next to the television picture by means of AR glasses, and audio description can be heard via a smartphone with headphones. In both cases, inclusion is supported by the fact that the additional aids can only be perceived by those who need them and other viewers are not distracted by them.

In November 2019, the project “Television for ALL – fully inclusive with HbbTV” received two (of seven) international awards at the 8th HbbTV Symposium in Athens. The joint project of bmt, abm and IRT was awarded in the categories “Best Multiscreen HbbTV Experience” and the prize “Best technology innovation in an HbbTV product or service”, which was awarded by the jury across all categories.

Preisverleihung an bmt, IRT und abm während des 8. HbbTV Symposiums in Athen

As the first local TV station in Bavaria, münchen.tv offers for visually and hearing impaired viewers, in the live programme and in catch-up TV, programme items produced by abm in versions with sign language interpreters, audio description, easy language and subtitles.

The Association for Disability and Media (abm), in cooperation with the broadcasters SAT.1 GOLD and KABEL EINS of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE, has now reached a milestone in the development of “TV for ALL” nationwide. From now, the monthly channel series Challenge – as the first TV format ever in Germany – is available fully inclusive.

In June 2020, the bmt’s HbbTV joint project won a CONNECT! THE SMART TV AWARD as winner in the category “Feels like Magic – Best Technological Innovation.

This is already the third award for the project “Television for ALL – fully inclusive with HbbTV”!

5G Media Initiative

In 2017, renowned companies and organisations launched the 5G Media Initiative to promote the potential of the future network standard 5G for the media industry with research and development. The 5G Media Initiative connects media companies, science and industry to exchange know-how, develop joint positions and initiate research projects.

The partners include ARRI, the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Privater Rundfunk, the Bayerische Landeszentrale für neue Medien, the Bayerische Rundfunk, the Munich-based start-up Cadami, Ericsson, the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS, the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg FAU, the Institut für Nachrichtentechnik der TU Braunschweig, Kathrein Broadcast, Media Broadcast, Mugler, Nokia, Rohde & Schwarz, the Südwestrundfunk, Telefónica Deutschland and VAUNET.

The bmt is leading the project and organising the communication.



More information about the 5G Media Initiative

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ARD, die Medienanstalten, Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, VPRT und ZDF führten eine gemeinsame Initiative zur Einführung von DVB-T2 HD durch. Für die kommunikative Begleitung des Umstiegs auf DVB-T2 HD wurde die bmt in den Jahren 2015 bis 2017 als Projektbüro beauftragt. Das Projektbüro war verantwortlich für die rechtzeitige Bereitstellung von Informationen für die ARD, the media authorities of the states, Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, VPRT and ZDF carried out a joint initiative for the introduction of DVB-T2 HD. For the communicative support of the switchover to DVB-T2 HD, bmt was commissioned as project office from 2015 to 2017. The project office was responsible for the timely provision of information for the public, press, politics, network operators, housing industry, equipment industry, trade and consumer protection. The tasks included the creation and maintenance of the website, answering enquiries, designing folders and explanatory videos, press relations, mailings, trade fairs, lectures and much more.

Using mobile television on portable devices it is important for users to have quick access to all relevant content. This can be achieved by storing parts of the current programme in addition to the linear programmes, so that they can be accessed locally at any time. Tagging refers to the marking of individual contributions in an audio or video stream by the programme providers, which enables targeted recording according to categories and their easy retrieval on the basis of the meta-information stored with them. A demo application developed by bmt clearly shows how tagging works on a mobile phone and gives an impression of the possible uses of tagging. Contributions are sorted by category and can be selected and viewed on the basis of a short description. The time of the recording and the logo of the programme provider are also displayed for each contribution. By marking the desired contributions in a playlist, the viewer can compile his own programme schedule in the future – i.e. a virtual programme.

On 30 April 2012, analogue satellite transmission came to an end. klardigital 2012 – an initiative of the state media authorities in cooperation with ARD, Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, VPRT and ZDF – informed the affected satellite households and advised specialist retailers, specialist trades, the housing industry and cable network operators. The bmt sent the deputy project manager to the klardigital project office, which was located in Berlin at DIE MEDIENANSTALTEN.

The bmt has been working intensively on the topic of DVB-T since 1998, first as an office in the DVB-T field trial in Bavaria and later as the project office DVB-T Bavaria. The main focus of the work in the field test was the coordination, the inspection and selection of transmitters and receivers, the handling of funding, the evaluation of measurement and test results as well as the documentation. With an internal economic efficiency study on the DVB-T transmitter networks, bmt proved its know-how in the technical-economic area and set standards for the later introduction. As the DVB-T Bavaria project office, bmt coordinated the introduction in Bavaria and was responsible for the joint communication of all partners. The main focus of the activity was, in addition to the processing of this topic in a way that was comprehensible to the general public, in the areas of press and public relations work, information events, training courses, call centre support, Internet, trade fairs and much more.

Radio

Project ART – Your mix of information and music

How can favourite music and personal interests in announcements be combined on linear radio, what technologies are necessary and how does it sound to the audience?

The Bayerische Medien Technik (bmt) together with the Bavarian Regulatory Authority for new media (BLM), Mediaschool Bayern, Bayerische Lokal-Radioprogramme (BLR) and Bayern Digital Radio (BDR), is investigating the combination of music-only programmes with an announcement channel in digital radio DAB+. The project has a duration of 14 months and is funded by the Bavarian State Chancellery.

More about the Project ART



MyRadio – Streaming Intelligence App for Radio Stations, Podcast Hosts, Audio Streaming Services and the Automotive Industry


Applikation Features

  • The app creates an intelligent playlist using varoius audio content sources (radio, music streaming, podcasts, audio books) and the user preferences.
  • The intelligent playlist is updated automatically to the latest status of the content provider, e.g. live programme, news, podcast episode or audio book.
  • The user no longer has to manually switch to another apps.
  • The app can be provided by a radio station, audio book publisher, podcast provider/marketer or music streaming service.
  • The app provider can offer own content or open the app to external content providers.

Hybrid Radio

Research study on opportunities and possibilities of hybrid radio

In 2010, a system concept was developed for the hybrid use of radio programmes transmitted via broadcasting systems and Internet streams, in which the receiving device automatically selects the best available reception path in each case. The overall concept was demonstrated in practice for the first time at the Medientage München 2010 using a prototype receiver.

Hybrid Radio Study

Study on DAB network costs

On behalf of the Rhineland-Palatinate State Media and Communications Authority (LMK), various regional and state-wide planning variants for DAB transmitter networks were examined in 2018 with regard to the expected costs.

Study on DAB network costs

More

bmt offers a radio app for iOS and Android as white label toolkit.
Select your desired options and offer to your listeners vour radio streams in your design.

App features:

  • News
  • Photo, email and voice function to the studio
  • Traffic control information
  • Title and artist
  • Banner advertisement
  • Alarm function

or let us know your ideas for implementation

In 1998, the bmt coordinated the implementation of the DAB Toolbox project, which was funded by the Landesanstalt für Kommunikation Baden-Württemberg (LfK) and the Bayerische Landeszentrale für neue Medien (BLM). The aim of the project was to provide programme providers with tools to enable new services in digital radio. The tools from the project supports the generation and delivery of multimedia services to data multiplexers.

From 1995 to 1998, bmt was responsible for the organisation of the DAB pilot project in Bavaria. Since the founding of Bayern Digital Radio (BDR) in 1998 as the Bavarian transmitter network operator for digital radio, bmt has been working intensively with BDR and numerous broadcasters on the development of additional features in digital radio.

Traffic Telematics

C-Roads

Within the framework of C-ROADS Germany, various cooperative ITS services (C-ITS Services) are realised in Hesse.

Roadworks warning is a safety-relevant cooperative ITS service with the aim of reducing the number of accidents that occur in connection with roadworks on the motorway and avoiding congestion in the advance of roadwork sites.

Accidents often occur in the context of a roadwork site because drivers do not react appropriately or react too late to the changed situation – e.g. when a lane is closed due to a daytime roadwork site or when traffic routing is changed – or do not pay full attention to what is happening on the road. It is therefore important that drivers receive a warning message in advance and can thus adjust their driving behaviour.

For the implementation of the road works warning service, different communication paths are implemented: An ITS Roadside Station (IRS) sends information to the ITS Vehicle Station (IVS) via ETSI G5. Another message channel is Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) to bring the information to the navigation systems in the vehicles.

In the project, bmt is responsible for processing the road works warnings taken from the mobility data platform (MDM) and broadcasting them via its Playout TPEG ON AIR in DAB.

More about C-Roads

Test field Telematic

Projekt duration

March 2011 – August 2013

Field tests

approx. 1 Year in the Vienna region

14 Projekt partner

e.g. Asfinag, Siemens AT,
TomTom, Kapsch, Swarco

End devices:

Navigation systems, smartphone apps, series production vehicles with
integrated systems, COOPERS reference platform

bmt service

Playout und decoder for TPEG

Funded by climate and energy fond KLiEn

Services:

Hazard warnings
Travel times
Delays in air and public transport
Park and Ride
Weather information and warnings

iKoPA – Integrated cooperation platform for automised electric vehicles

Automated driving functions are essential for efficient electric driving. Due to missing and intransparent communication structures as well as a uniform information quality, a cross-manufacturer integration of automated (electric) driving has been difficult so far. The integrated cooperation platform for automatised electric vehicles (iKoPA) brings technologies together in an innovative way. This is achieved by means of a multiple communication approach through the support of vehicle-to-X communication, digital audio broadcasting (DAB+) and mobile radio as well as the integration of driver assistance system architectures to support highly and fully automated driving manoeuvres.

The electronic systems of the electric vehicles can make their data available to service providers in a secured manner and in real time via the extended Car2X system network. With the connection of the traffic infrastructure, e.g. traffic lights and charging stations through an innovative upgrade kit, new and optimised driving, parking and charging functions with a high to full degree of automation are made possible. iKoPA develops the basis for a system that, as an open integration platform, connects future services in the field of intelligent traffic and automated driving in an innovative, future-proof and area-wide manner. The introduction of electromobile applications is accelerated by increasing the additional benefits and serves as the basis for a vision of the automated and electromobile mobility of the future.

ECODyNIS

Safe electromobility and sustainable CO2 reduction through dynamic navigation in cities with traffic information via digital radio.

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