Open Source Project
ORB — Open Red Button
The Open Red Button Project (ORB) is an open-source initiative that brings HbbTV support to browsers. ORB enhances browsers with HbbTV functionality using JavaScript and C++ components, simplifying integration for connected TVs and set-top boxes.
What is ORB?
ORB (Open Red Button) is an open-source project that adds HbbTV capabilities to web browsers on TV platforms. It provides the JavaScript and C++ components needed to support HbbTV applications, including broadcast-integrated services, interactive TV features and connected experiences. The project is designed to work seamlessly with Android (WebView/Chromium) and RDK (WPE) platforms, offering manufacturers a royalty-free path to HbbTV compliance without vendor lock-in.
The project is designed to work seamlessly with Android (WebView/Chromium) and RDK (WPE) platforms, offering manufacturers a royalty-free path to HbbTV compliance without vendor lock-in.
HbbTV Support
ORB provides comprehensive support for modern HbbTV specifications, including profiles for HbbTV 2.0.3 and 2.0.4. The implementation includes the latest features required for broadcast and connected TV services across European markets.
- HbbTV 2.0.3 and 2.0.4 profiles
- Media synchronisation for companion screens
- Accessibility features and voice control
- DVB-I service discovery and delivery
- OpApp support for applications like Freely
Platform Support
ORB is designed to integrate with the two most widely deployed smart TV platforms, providing manufacturers with flexible deployment options based on their platform architecture.
Android
ORB integrates with Android WebView and Chromium-based browsers, supporting both system browser integration and standalone service architectures. This flexibility allows manufacturers to minimise memory footprint or isolate HbbTV functionality based on device requirements.
RDK
ORB enhances the WPE WebKit browser on RDK platforms with native HbbTV capability integrated directly into the platform. This approach minimises the memory and storage footprint on HbbTV-enabled devices while maintaining full specification compliance.
Implementation Flexibility
ORB offers developers multiple approaches to integration, allowing implementation choices that align with device architecture, memory constraints and platform requirements.
- System browser integration — Add HbbTV to existing browser with minimal footprint
- Standalone library — Deploy as dedicated browser component for isolated operation
- Service architecture — Run as background service with client application interfaces
Open Source & Commercial Support
ORB is freely available as open-source software, enabling manufacturers to integrate, modify and contribute to the project. The codebase is hosted on GitHub and developed collaboratively with industry partners. While ORB provides a reference implementation, production deployment requires additional browser patches, platform integration and DRM support. Ocean Blue Software provides commercial integration services, turnkey browser solutions and ongoing support for customers deploying ORB in production devices.
While ORB provides a reference implementation, production deployment requires additional browser patches, platform integration and DRM support. Ocean Blue Software provides commercial integration services, turnkey browser solutions and ongoing support for customers deploying ORB in production devices.
For more information about the standards ORB supports, visit the official pages for HbbTV, Freely and DVB-I.
Need Production Support for ORB?
Our team provides integration services, turnkey browser solutions and commercial support for ORB deployments.