What does this cost to adopt?+
MPAT is open-source, so the core platform itself is free to use and modify. Your costs would come from customisation, hosting, and integration with your existing content workflows. Since the project ended in 2017, there is no commercial support team — you would need in-house or contracted developers familiar with HbbTV and the MPAT codebase.
Can this scale to serve millions of TV viewers?+
The platform was designed for broadcast-scale deployment — HbbTV apps are delivered alongside the TV signal to all compatible sets. Based on available project data, the consortium conducted large-scale trials validated through an exhaustive set of pilots. The CMS architecture supports linking to existing content management solutions, which helps handle high-volume editorial workflows.
What is the IP and licensing situation?+
The MPAT core is open-source, which means you can use, modify, and distribute it freely under its open-source license. Individual plug-ins or themes developed by third parties may have separate licensing terms. Based on available project data, the business model was explicitly designed around an open ecosystem similar to WordPress.
How mature is the technology — is it ready for production?+
The consortium delivered both trial-ready and final versions of the CMS backend, frontend, and plug-in modules, incorporating feedback from large-scale trials. This is an Innovation Action funded project that was explicitly described as a close-to-market solution. However, the project ended in 2017, so the codebase may need updates for current HbbTV standards.
Does this work with our existing broadcast infrastructure?+
MPAT was built on the HbbTV standard, which is supported by over 90% of Connected TVs sold in many European markets. It supports HbbTV release 2.0 with HTML5, multi-screen services, and media synchronisation. The CMS can link to existing content management solutions, reducing the need to replace your current editorial tools.
Who built this and can we trust the technology?+
The consortium was led by Fraunhofer, one of Europe's most respected applied research organisations, and included 8 partners across 5 countries with 3 industry players and 2 SMEs. The project delivered 32 deliverables over 2 years, including iteratively improved software based on real trial feedback.
Is this compliant with European broadcasting regulations?+
HbbTV is the European standard for interactive TV, already mandated or widely adopted across EU markets. Based on available project data, the consortium included key players from the HbbTV domain who ensured the platform aligned with the standard's requirements including HbbTV release 2.0 specifications.
