HbbTV re-elects Vincent Grivet as chair, prioritizes IP-delivery roadmap

The re-election of Grivet ensures leadership continuity as HbbTV shifts focus from hybrid broadcast to All-IP delivery. By integrating DVB-I and finalizing HbbTV 2.0.6, the association is addressing the fragmentation of content discovery across broadband and broadcast networks. The entry of major Chinese manufacturers like Skyworth and Xiaomi into the steering body signals a critical shift in European market influence and the growing importance of HbbTV as a common application layer for globally-produced smart TVs. Watch for the publication of the All-IP/3.0 study results in late 2026 as a sign of how fast linear-over-IP will scale across Europe.

The HbbTV Association’s focus on All-IP and DVB-I integration comes as European markets reach critical mass for hybrid television services. According to market data from Dataxis, HbbTV-compliant households in Europe reached 100 million in early 2025 and are projected to surpass 120 million by the end of 2026, representing more than 50% market penetration. This ubiquity has turned HbbTV into a strategic battleground for content discovery and audience measurement, moving beyond its original use case for simple red-button interactive applications.

Related technical momentum is building through the DVB Project, which published the 'DVB-I Book Germany' in May 2026 to establish a framework for commercial DVB-I deployment in the German market. Similar trials are underway in Ireland via RTÉ's Saorview platform and in New Zealand, where Freeview announced the launch of a nationwide DVB-I based platform in May 2026. These initiatives aim to provide a standardized way for viewers to discover linear channels over broadband without relying on proprietary, manufacturer-specific app environments.

Simultaneously, the European TV hardware landscape is undergoing a structural realignment toward Chinese manufacturing and logistics. Per external reporting from February and March 2026, Skyworth officially took over the sales, marketing, and logistics for Panasonic-branded TVs in Europe starting April 1, 2026. This partnership mirrors similar moves by other legacy brands, such as Sony’s joint venture with TCL in early 2026, as Japanese firms pivot toward high-end R&D while offloading the capital-intensive scale of mass-market distribution. The inclusion of Skyworth and Xiaomi in the HbbTV Steering Group formalizes this shift, ensuring that the next generation of open TV standards is closely aligned with the production realities of the world's largest display manufacturers.