Channelbox
Channelbox is a free-to-air multi-channel linear streaming HbbTV application that aggregates IP linear streamed content from multiple content-owners into a single selection menu. The Channelbox HbbTV application is currently available in the UK via Freeview and has been written to make use of HbbTV 1.5+ features as required to maximise reach in a mature HbbTV market. The Channelbox service appears as a standard channel in the native electronic programming guide of the Freeview TV and is launched via broadcast AIT on selection of the LCN.
Description
Channelbox is a free-to-air multi-channel linear streaming HbbTV application, created by Synapse TV Ltd and managed by Global Distribution Service that aggregates IP linear streamed content from multiple content-owners into a single selection menu. The Channelbox HbbTV application is currently available in the UK via Freeview and has been written to make use of HbbTV 1.5+ features as required to maximise reach in a mature HbbTV market. The Channelbox service appears as a standard channel in the native electronic programming guide of the Freeview TV and is launched via broadcast AIT on selection of the LCN. The unique features of the Channelbox HbbTV application include recall on application start-up of the last viewed stream from the previous session, and free-to-use dynamic ad insertion into linear streams for monetization purposes. Local storage and recall of the last viewed stream means that the avid viewer of a particular stream can access their content simply by navigating to the LCN in the same way that they would a broadcast video channel. This feature allows any content owner to market the Channelbox LCN as their own. Linear dynamic ad insertion is performed via a custom Server Side Ad Insertion system. The SSAI is built on standard broadcast and advertising interfaces to enable just-in-time replacement of signaled ad-breaks in the linear feed with breaks that can be targeted at the individual viewer. The SSAI system includes auto-ad-ingest to support both pre-sold and programmatic advertising models and the Channelbox application CDN includes an all-you-can-eat data plan. The Channelbox service is therefore an extremely cost-effective method of making linear streamed content available to the UK Freeview audience or to any platform that includes HbbTV1.5 devices and later.
Impact
The Channelbox service is the most cost-effective method of making linear streamed content available to the UK Freeview audience or to any platform that includes HbbTV1.5 devices and later. The low start-up costs mean that owners of niche-content can now make their content available to the Freeview audience without the otherwise necessary investment in broadcast bandwidth. This facilitated the launch of such channels as Hellenic TV, the only Greek language channel available in the UK, NextUp Comedy ‚ a new British stand-up comedy channel, only available free-to-air via Channelbox, Fido TV, a US channel for dog lovers, Bite‚ a new culinary channel and many other TV channels catering to expatriate communities living in the UK or specific groups of interests. The Channelbox service also represents international brands such as Euronews, France24, Fashion TV and many more. The Channelbox HbbTV application launched during the Summer of 2021 and currently includes 20 TV channels that include Music, News, Sport, Films and General Entertainment content but has a constantly expanding channel line-up.
Screens
