HbbTV re-elects Grivet, adds Vestel and Skyworth to Steering Group

The new Steering Group composition reflects consolidation in European TV manufacturing, with Skyworth's entry directly tied to its expanded European role through the Panasonic partnership. Vestel's addition gives the Association a second new TV maker on its executive body, strengthening manufacturer representation just as HbbTV pushes toward its All-IP/3.0 study and DVB-I integration — both of which require device-maker buy-in. The introduction of Small Member and Associate Member categories signals an effort to widen participation beyond traditional broadcasters and large OEMs. Watch for the publication of HbbTV 2.0.6 and the first Application Interest Group launches as concrete signals of the 2026-2028 agenda moving from planning to execution.

The HbbTV Association has been accelerating its specification cadence. In March 2026, it published HbbTV 2.0.5, which formally integrated DRM support — requiring at least Microsoft PlayReady or Google Widevine — alongside WebAssembly, enhanced web security specifications, and optional AV1 and VVC codec support (per the HbbTV Association, March 2026). The release also improved DVB-I integration first introduced in version 2.0.4, clarifying how DVB-I applications associated with entire service lists can handle GDPR consent and terms-of-service agreements. This was followed in April 2026 by Test Suite version 2026-1, containing 3,439 test cases with 64 newly approved tests covering DRM and CTA WAVE Media Source Extensions.

Skyworth's arrival on the Steering Group is a direct consequence of broader industry restructuring. In February 2026, Panasonic announced a comprehensive partnership with Shenzhen Skyworth Display Technology, under which Skyworth took over sales, marketing, and logistics for Panasonic-branded TVs in Europe from April 2026 (per Nikkei Asia, February 2026). The move mirrors Sony's January 2026 memorandum of understanding with China's TCL to form a joint venture controlling Sony's home entertainment business, continuing the retreat of Japanese manufacturers from TV production (per decodeTV, February 2026). These shifts mean Chinese manufacturers now control a growing share of European TV distribution, making their participation in standards bodies like HbbTV increasingly important for interoperability.

The All-IP/3.0 study mission builds on work that began in 2025. At the HbbTV Symposium 2025 in Istanbul, a roundtable moderated by DTG's Ranjeet Kaur explored HbbTV's role in an IP-only future, with participants from Everyone TV, the EBU, RTL Deutschland, and Mediaset discussing whether a dedicated IP-only profile of the HbbTV specification is needed (per the HbbTV Developer Portal). The UK's Freely platform, built on HbbTV technology, has already seen a significant proportion of users connecting TVs via broadband without an aerial. Germany published a DVB-I Implementation Profile for receivers in March 2026, and Italy continues a DVB-I commercial trial using HbbTV linked applications. The 14th HbbTV Symposium is scheduled for November 18-19, 2026 in Barcelona.