This is something I learnt at IBC 2013.   “DON’T SHOW WE WHAT IT IS MADE OF – SHOW ME WHAT IT CAN DO FOR MY BUSINESS”.  So yes at IBC I was awaiting the hype and the buzz of RDK and 4K.   Respectively one is a new ‘Middleware’ that is touted as the next big thing for the Cable industry with Open Source and Shared Source being bandied about, the other is a new Transmission level above HD called Ultra HD (4K).   Supposedly RDK is to make it cheaper and faster for the operators to deploy STBs.  RDK was designed in 2009 and it was a damp squib at IBC.  UltraHD needs no explanation it had WOW factor!

On the RDK side the show was so disappointing that I was disappointed myself.  There was simply nothing shown as to what these ‘amazing’ RDK components allow you to do or why this particular flavour makes TV any better than it is with similar components of equal or better capability (Open Source or not).

When you try to move Middleware mountains you need to make sure that it doesn’t take all your effort in tuning the engine when at the end the tyres are flat.  RDK will potentially be the next middleware ‘White Elephant’ after MHP.

Those who saw the Nagra OpenTV 5 Ultra HD demo at IBC will concur that they most certainly have have pole-position.