The CCMA releases the software to display subtitles under the HbbTV standard

The software, now shared publicly, allows subtitles in the standard EBU-TT-D format to be overlaid on the video, regardless of the player used and the version of the HbbTV standard on the television.

The Catalan Corporation of Audiovisuals Mitjans (CCMA), in its commitment to the universalization of accessibility, has released the code used to display subtitles in its TV3alacarta service under the HbbTV standard, developed within the European project Hbb4All.

The software that has now been shared publicly allows subtitles in the EBU-TT-D standard format to be overlaid on the video, regardless of the player used and the version of the HbbTV standard on the television. The open source software is accompanied by an example of use and can be found on the GitHub platform, specialized in open source under licenses without restrictions for its use. In addition, detailed information on the operation of the CCMA subtitling service has also been published on a specific portal for HbbTV developers, the HbbTV-Developer. In this way, the code is opened to professionals who want to develop subtitling systems and use the same technical standards.

The European standard HbbTV with the aim of providing televisions with an interactivity system based on free competition between broadcasters and easily accessible using the red button on the remote control.

The European Hbb4All project is focused on the accessibility of groups with special needs and aims to take advantage of the possibilities of new technologies to respond to their demands.

Within the framework of the European research project Hbb4All, the CCMA has explored the possibilities offered by personalized subtitling, audio description and the original version in the TV3alacarta service for SmartTV televisions compatible with the HbbTV standard. This is one more step in the CCMA's commitment to the universalization of access to content, in order to promote the generalization of accessibility services among all actors participating in the global television market through HbbTV.

El proyecto Hbb4All está cofinanciado por la Comunidad Europea mediante el programa CIP ICT PSP e impulsado por un consorcio de doce socios europeos, entre los que está la Corporació. También hay instituciones académicas como la UAB y la UPM, otros broadcasters (RBB, RTB y Swiss TXT), institutos de investigación (IRT y Vicomtech) y empresas expertas en accesibilidad (VSonix, Screen Subtitling Systems, People’s Playground y Holken Consultors & Partners).