Cabot Communications has successfully completed MHEG-5 1.06 testing for its Mercator MHEG5 plug-in and Aurora DVB middleware solution.

UK digital TV software company Cabot Communications has successfully completed MHEG-5 1.06 testing for its Mercator MHEG5 plug-in and Aurora DVB middleware solution in readiness for the standard becoming an essential requirement for digital TV equipment featuring the 'digital tick' logo, from 1st September 2006. As part of Digital UK's national public information campaign, the 'digital tick' certification scheme identifies products and services designed to work before, during and after digital switchover. It is already in use in 40% of all electrical stores in the UK.

Around 2300 retailers have signed up to the tick and are using the scheme to select which products to catalogue.

Over the summer months, millions of UK viewers will see an advertising campaign encouraging consumers to look for the 'digital tick' when buying new equipment, which for the first time in history is being aired simultaneously on the BBC and all main commercial TV channels.

Products branded with the digital tick logo must be able to demonstrate compliance with the latest MHEG-5 test suite, MHEG-5 v1.06.

MHEG-5 provides a robust, platform-independent environment for the implementation of interactivity in digital television.

It enables broadcasters to provide interactive features such as electronic programme guides, news and weather services, home shopping, interactive advertising and games.

Cabot has been a key contributor to the development of the test suite, following the publication of the updated MHEG-5 UK Profile v1.06 by the DTG in 2003.

Cabot's Mercator MHEG-5 plug-in and Aurora DVB middleware solution are now fully compliant with the standard and have been independently verified by leading CE manufacturers, such as Philips Consumer Electronics who will shortly deploy Mercator in their high-end integrated digital television sets.

Darren Standing, Business Development Manager at Cabot Communications commented: 'This latest announcement will ensure that Cabot continues to play a key role in the future of digital TV and can fully support manufacturers in their transition to the digital tick scheme'.

'The inclusion of fully MHEG 1.06 compliant software is an important aspect of the scheme and will help to ensure that the UK continues to be a world-leader in the field of television broadcasting'.

'Cabot is committed to supporting manufacturers throughout the switchover process and assisting them in taking digital television into what promises to be an exciting and rewarding future'.

As a result of the success of the MHEG-5 standard in the UK, Cabot, along with other leading industry representatives, is taking the lead in promoting the MHEG standard across Europe.

There will be further announcements regarding this initiative during the summer and at the IBC conference in September.