Questions

Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions about the Service List Registry.

The Service List Registry is a federated machine-readable online directory of audiovisual media services, based on open standards.

The Service List Registry allows any compatible screen, device, or application to discover lists of available audiovisual media services.

The Service List Registry provides service information to enable compatible screens, devices, or applications to access services from multiple sources, including broadcast and fixed or wireless connections.

A service list is an ordered list of audiovisual media services including technical service information about how and where they can be accessed. It can reference services delivered over different transmission or distribution networks, either as alternatives or in combination.

A service in a service list offering can be a digital radio or television channel, an audio or audiovisual stream, or a web application and user interface providing such services. A service may may include access services such as subtitles, audio description or signing. It may be offered live or on demand, available free or as part of a subscription.

A service instance is a reference to a specific delivery of a service available over either a conventional cable, satellite, or terrestrial transmission, or a fixed or wireless internet connection. A service may include one or more service instances in order of priority specified by the provider.

The Service List Registry provides a federated platform to allow regulators, media providers, device manufacturers, or application developers to delegate and administer their own service lists.

The Service List Registry enables simple service selection for network-connected televisions and other devices and displays that may or may not have a conventional co-axial cable connection.

Simple service selection is a trademark used by the Service List Registry to refer to the use of service lists to access audiovisual media services on different types of device and display.

The Service List Registry enables media providers to evolve their offerings from scheduled broadcast channels to more flexible online services, while maintaining compatibility with legacy receivers.

Some media providers have developed proprietary systems for their own applications, but these do not necessarily interoperate with other services or devices.

The Service List Registry includes provision for regulated service lists that can be approved by the relevant regulator for a specific jurisdiction.

The Service list Registry does not determine prominence or priority but provides ordered lists of services, which can be governed by industry agreement or subject to national or regional regulation.

The Service List Registry can support regulated service lists, which provides consumers with confidence in the authenticity of included services.

The Service List Registry is an open platform that allows devices and displays to access audiovisual media services from multiple providers, providing consumers with choice, convenience and control.

The Service List Registry will always be free for public query requests, while registered regulators, broadcasters, and service providers can list offerings in the Service List Registry for a nominal fee based on usage.

The Service List Registry simply provides lists of available audiovisual services and how to access them, rather than information about individual programmes, although the DVB‑I specification also includes support for content guides.

The Service List Registry enables service lists that can combine traditional broadcast channels, online streams, or entire online applications.

The Service List Registry simply provides links to audiovisual services and is not otherwise involved in the delivery of channels, streams, or applications.

The Service List Registry supports any combination of free or paid services but is not involved in any entitlement, subscription, or payment systems.

The Service List Registry provides structured metadata and links to specified brand images but does not impose any form of presentation or user experience.

The Service List Registry is freely available to any compatible application, device, or display. Media providers can register their services on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms, subject to conditions to protect users from potentially harmful material.

The Service List Registry is available and accessible globally, based on scalable network infrastructure deployed in multiple geographic regions.

Service List Registry requests can select service lists by target country and the service provider remains in control of any geographic restrictions on service availability.

The Service List Registry supports very granular regionalisation of services to specific geographic areas of any size and the service provider remains in control of any geographic restrictions on service availability.

The Service List Registry supports the indication of scheduled or repeating time availability windows for services, specified in Coordinated Universal Time.

The Service List Registry allows services to be specified by defined region, which allows for distinct services in different time zones.

The Service List Registry is designed to support continuous availability for service list query responses with at least 99.99% uptime over a calendar year.

The Service List Registry is currently available for trial in pilot services and for interoperability testing before it becomes generally available.

Compatible screens, devices, or applications can query the Service List Registry with a simple web request to retrieve lists of relevant services.

The Service List Registry is based on the DVB‑I specification that is published as an open ETSI standard. It uses open web standards including HTTPS and XML.

The Service List Registry supports the DVB‑I specification for service list queries. Service list information can be transformed into different formats to facilitate integration with other systems.

DVB‑I complements rather than replaces widely deployed delivery standards including DVB‑S, DVB‑C, DVB‑T, and DVB‑DASH, providing service information that can be easily accessed over any internet connection.

Software applications, including iOS, Android, HbbTV, or web browser apps, can be coded to query the Service List Registry to access service lists. Smart televisions with native DVB-I compatibility will be able to access service lists. Many existing receivers can also be upgraded to support DVB-I.

The Service List Registry has a public query interface that can be accessed using simple GET requests using a published REST Application Programming Interface.

The Service List Registry can be easily accessed using simple web technologies, but software libraries will be available to facilitate integration with popular programming environments.

Television and video devices that support the DVB‑I standard will be able to use the Service List Registry. Some models are already commercially available. Many existing receivers can also be upgraded.

The Service List Registry can support legacy devices and displays through software applications, including iOS, Android, HbbTV, or web browser apps. Televisions may also be upgraded through a software upgrade or using a plug-in device.

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