As the HbbTV ecosystem continues to evolve, ensuring consistent performance and interoperability across devices has become a central concern for developers, manufacturers and service providers alike. A recent panel discussion, HbbTV Webinar: Reference Test Applications Explained, brought together the following panellists; 

• Resillion’s Global Head of Conformance and Interoperability, Dr. Bob Campbell,  

• Mark Riely, Sr. Architect and Alex Russell, Controller of Technical Partnership from Everyone TV  

• Suitest CEO, Mirko Nedeljkovic  

They were brought together to explore the role of reference tools and applications in supporting conformance, testing and real-world deployment. Here’s a look at the key takeaways from the session.

Key takeaways 

• Reference apps are essential for validating both conformance and interoperability in HbbTV environments. 

• Everyone TV’s dual-app approach—combining video playback testing with API validation—offers a practical model for comprehensive testing. 

• Resillion’s reference app strategy and remote Plugfest initiatives are helping to expand access and improve testing consistency across global teams. 

• Remote testing tooling makes interoperability testing more accessible and sustainable, but there are still practical and logistical obstacles to using any tools effectively. 

• There is growing interest in formally incorporating reference apps into certification workflows, with new working groups exploring how best to achieve this. 

Everyone TV’s dual-app strategy

Everyone TV supports the Freely service in the UK through two distinct reference applications: 

• Secondary Video Window OpApp: Focused on video playback for IP channels, this app uses DASH.js and supports DRM configurations such as SL2000 and SL3000. It enables manufacturers to test playback performance, buffering, and stream handling in a controlled environment. 
• TACO (Test and Conformance OpApp): A technical tool for validating API implementations. It checks device responses to API calls, verifies object parameters, and provides detailed logs. TACO is required for Freely certification and is designed to be as automated as possible, while still allowing manual input when needed. 

Together, these apps offer a comprehensive framework for testing both user-facing functionality and backend conformance. 

Highlighting the gap between compliance and interoperability 

In the webinar, Bob Campbell highlighted the importance of reference apps in bridging the gap between specification compliance and real-world interoperability. He showcased the HbbTV DRM reference app as a best-practice example and shared how Resillion supports global testing through tools like Ligada and remote Plugfests, helping manufacturers validate performance across diverse devices and regions.

Introducing a new model for interoperability testing

Resillion’s remote Plugfests offer a new model for interoperability testing. A recent event in Shenzhen enabled manufacturers and developers to test apps on retail and pre-production devices remotely. Participants could control devices, view real-time logs, and collaborate across regions, enhancing accessibility and supporting sustainability by reducing travel. 

Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with participants praising the live device access, ease of use, and broader test coverage. 

Q&A highlights

• Performance expectations: While universal benchmarks are difficult, reference apps, especially those used in certification, do imply performance expectations. These are typically measured via playback responsiveness, memory usage, and transition speeds, and should be clearly documented. 
• Automated testing with Ligada: The Ligada tool supports automated testing of the HbbTV reference app, streamlining validation workflows for manufacturers and developers. 
• Dash.js compatibility: The reference app prioritises broad device support, which may require using stable versions of Dash.js rather than the latest releases to maintain compatibility with legacy hardware. 

These discussions reflect the growing complexity of hybrid TV environments and the need for tools that are both technically robust and practically usable. 

Incorporating reference apps into certification 

A new Study Mission Group (SMG) within the HbbTV Association is exploring how reference apps can be formally integrated into certification processes. The group aims to assess current tools, identify gaps, and propose improvements for their role in performance and interoperability validation. 

Future trends in HbbTV 

Looking ahead, the HbbTV ecosystem is expected to place greater emphasis on performance benchmarking, automation, and cross-platform compatibility. Reference apps will likely evolve to include more dynamic test scenarios, including adaptive streaming, accessibility features, and energy efficiency metrics. There is also growing interest in integrating AI-driven diagnostics to help identify and resolve interoperability issues faster. 

Additionally, as hybrid TV services expand globally, remote testing infrastructure, like the one piloted by Suitest, will become increasingly important. These platforms will not only support broader participation but also enable continuous testing across development cycles, reducing time to market and improving service reliability. 

Explore how Resillion’s testing tools and expertise can support your HbbTV development and certification journey—get in touch or visit their platform to learn more. 

Watch the HbbTV Webinar: Reference Test Applications Explained.