Open IPTV Forum and HbbTV Association merge their activities

BANGALORE, INDIA: Open IPTV Forum and HbbTV Association has announced that they have merged their future activities into a single organization within the legal structure of the HbbTV Association.

The decision is based on the recognition that the markets of OTT, HBB, and IPTV are coming closer together, and barriers between the models are becoming smaller, said the company. 

With this action, both the Open IPTV Forum and the HbbTV Association have chosen to react proactively and in a timely manner to these market trends.

The plan is to build on both organization's strengths through a merging of their activities in order to serve the interests of the stakeholders ans the consumers that each organization currently serves.

Nilo Mitra, president of the Open IPTV Forum, said: "The single organization we have created will ensure that the common platform based on the OIPF browser and used by HbbTV will evolve in a compatible way to serve all three types of service delivery models covered by both our members - over-the-top, hybrid broadcast/broadband and IPTV."

Klaus Illgner, chairman of the HbbTV steering group, said: "We're looking towards a converging future requiring us to adjust industry standards to changing market demands. By merging with the Open IPTV Forum, we're continuing to take steps to remain at the forefront of trends in the TV industry.We are excited by this opportunity and welcome the new members from OIPF who will work with us to define the next wave of TV standards."