الهيئة السعودية للمواصفات والمقاييس والجودة 
Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Org (SASO)  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SASO /FDS/ 33533 :2024 
 
 
 
Technical Requirements of TV Broadcast Receiver s 
المتطلبات الفنية لأجهزة استقبال البث التلفزيوني  
 
 
ICS: 33.060.30  
THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT SAUDI REGULATION CIRCULATED 
FOR COMMENT. IT IS, THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND MAY 
NOT BE REFERRED TO AS A SAUDI REGULATION UNTIL APPROVED 
BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.   SASO STANDERD   SASO  XXXX: 2024 
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 CONTENTS  
FOREWORD  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  3 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  4 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ............................  4 
3      Terms and  definitions    ……… ……… ….….………………… ……. ……… .….…... 4 
4 General Requirements  ................................ ................................ ...........................  4 
5 STB Minimum technical requirements  for DVB -S/S2  ................................ ...........  5 
6 STB Minimum technical requirements  for OTT Box  ................................ .............  7 
7 STB Minimum technical requirements  Hybrid  Box ................................ ...............  8 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 SASO STANDERD   SASO  XXXX: 2024 
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 FOREWORD  
The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) have  prepared this draft 
Standard “ Technical Requirements of TV Broadcast Receivers ” based on relevant regional , 
International and National foreign Standards and references.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 SASO STANDERD   SASO  XXXX: 2024 
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 Technical Requirements of TV Broadcast Receivers  
 
1- Scope  
This standard  identifies the performance requirements and features of the System to meet the 
service quality targets. This document specifies a standard for equipment that receives TV  
broadcast through satellite, internet or Hybrid . This requirement shall apply to all producers, 
manufacturers, importers, and retailers who wish to sell (Set-Top boxes  (STB) or Smart TV ) in 
Saudi Arabia. It shall be used to assess the eligibility of a product for use in Saudi Arabia. This 
standard  details the requirements for those devices  receive TV broadcast .  
This standard  does not address the requirements of the installation system (antenna, feeder cable, 
amplifiers, etc.) or any other radio apparatus.   
 
2- Normative references  
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document.  
For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest 
edition  of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
• EN 300 421                  Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB)  
 
• ETSI  EN 302 307 -1   Second generation Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB -S2). 
 
• ETSI TS 102 034:     Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB); Transport of MPEG -2 TS Based 
DVB Se rvices over IP Based Networks".  
 
• ETSI TS 102 539 :      Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB);  Carriage of Broadband Content 
Guide (BCG) informat ion over Internet Protocol (IP) .  
 
• ETSI 102 796             Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV .  
 
• ETSI TS 101 154        Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB); Specification for the use of Video 
and Audio Coding in Broadcasting Applications based  on the MPEG -2 Transport Stream . 
 
• ISO/IEC13818 -1        Information technology — Generic coding of moving pictures and 
associated audio information — Part 1 . 
 
• SASO -CITC -RI121  Specification for Radio Broadcasting Equipment   
 
• IEC 62698                   Multimedia home server systems - Rights information interoperability 
for IPTV . 
 
• IEC 62766                   Consumer terminal function for access to IPTV and open internet 
multimedia services  
 
• ITU FG IPTV -C-0217 End-to-End IPTV security  
 
• ITU-T H.721       IPTV terminal Devices: Basic devices  
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 3- Terms and  definitions : 
OTT : Over -The-Top Media Services.  
IPTV: Internet Protocol Television . 
SMART TV: Smart Television  using Internet . 
GAMR : General Authority of Media Regulation . 
STB:  A set -top box is a hardware device that allows a digital signal to be received, decoded and 
displayed on a television.  
 
Side Loading Protection : measurements taken to prevent the user from installing applications 
from any source other than the official applications store for the platform the device is running on.  
 
Hybrid: any device that receives TV broadcast through Satellite and internet.   
LNB : a low -noise block downconverter (LNB) is the receiving device mounted on satellite 
antennas  used for satellite TV reception.  
LNB control : Satellite Receiver provisions to provide proper power supply and switching signal 
for oscillator selection and polarization selection for LNB . 
 
4- GENERAL REQUIREMENTS  
4.1 The Satellite receiver  shall be open architecture (non -proprietary) and shall ensure 
technical compatibility and effective interoperability among different Satellite  receiver  providers  
in the country . 
 
4.2  The Satellite receiver shall support reception and processing of DVB -S (EN 300421) and 
DVB -S2 (EN 302 307 -1) compliant digitally modulated signal.  
 
4.3  Each TV receiver  shall be legibly and indelibly marked with at least the following 
information  on both the device and its packaging :  
 
a) Manufacturer’s name or trademark (if any);  
b) Model designation and serial number.  
c) Country of manufacture.  
d) Input supply voltage and frequency.  
e) Power consumption.   
F) Supported s ockets port for audio and video output.  SASO STANDERD   SASO  XXXX: 2024 
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 5- Minimum Technical Requirements for Satellite STB  
S/N FEATURES  Reference/ Details  
1  Auto and manual search 
modes  Basic features for broadcasting channel searching  
2  Input  impedance  75Ω 
3  Modulation  DVB -S and DVB -S2 compliant.  
4  Modulation schemes  DVB -S and DVB -S2 compliant.  
5  Intermediate Frequency range  
Note : frequency  included  in the 
table  is Intermediate  Frequency  
(IF) received  at the STB, not at 
the antenna . 950-2150 MHz  
6  Input  signal  level -25 dBm to -65 dBm  
7  FEC  coding  DVB -S and DVB -S2 compliant.  
8  Symbol  rate 2~45Msps  
9  Signal  Bandwidth  Depends on the transponder  
10  Stream  Transport  MPEG -2 and MPEG -4 ISO/IEC13818 -1 
11  Signal Quality Level indicator  Basic feature for signal level indication (green or 
yellow) for acceptable signal quality  
12  Parental Control/Lock   Basic feature for controlling viewers  
13  Electronic Program Guide  
(EPG)  The STB shall support electronic program guide 
(EPG) for content listing that allows display of 
programming information supplied by the 
channels in both Arabic and English.  
14  Remote Control  Full function standard IR/ Bluetooth  remote 
control . 
15  Languages  Availability language selection feature: English 
and Arabic  SASO STANDERD   SASO  XXXX: 2024 
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 16  MPEG  
Transport stream video and 
Audio Decoding  Video decoding  MPEG -2/MPEG4 AVC 
(H.264)  
Aspect Ratio (image 
rate)  4:3,16:9  
Video Resolution  720X576 (PAL) - 
standard definition, 
1920X1080 (High 
definition)  
Audio Decoding  MPEG -2, MPEG -4 
17  Power  LNB control  
18  Power supply  AC 230, 60 HZ  
19  Owner’s Manual  User manual should be  at least (Arabic  and 
English  languages)  
20  Scanning  Function  It should be able to display the number of channels 
currently being scanned  
The Satellite receivers should include a frequency 
scanning function to detect the availability of the 
signal  
Table (1):   MINIMUM TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS  
 
 
6- Minimum Technical Requirements OTT Box  
S/N FEATURES  Reference/ Details  
Specifications  
1  Output Resolution:  SD/HD  
2  IR detection : The IR detection shall be 8m at an angle of 60° from the 
left and to the right of the center  of the IRR on the 
decoder.  
3  Temperature  Rise 
Requires : At the 40  C° Ambient temperature , the temperature 
inside the box  shall be  25 C° ± 5 C°.  SASO STANDERD   SASO  XXXX: 2024 
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 4  Static Electricity 
Requirements : The STB shall adhere to IEC 61000 -4-2 and comply with 
4kV contact ESD discharge and an 8kV air ESD 
discharge.  
5  Drop Test Requirement : Drop Test (STB unit): 0.5 m, Drop Test (packaged STB 
with accessories): 1m  
6  Surge Requirement : a. The STB RF -in interface shall adhere to IEC 61000 -
4-5 definition where protection should be provided 
for up to 2kV surge.  
The PSU should be provided for up to 4kV surge.  
Wireless connectivity  
7  Wi-Fi: Required if not support Ethernet  
8  Ethernet : Required if not support Wi -Fi 
Decoder  
9  Support Language:  Arabic/ English  
Parts  
10  HDMI:  Mandatory requirement.  
Packing list  
11  User Manual:  User manual should be at least (Arabic and English 
languages)  
12  HDMI Cable:  Should be compatible with the highest resolution 
supported by the device  
Anti -Piracy Requirements  
13  Side Loading Protection : Should not be allowed to download from external 
sources, and only the official application stores are 
allowed.  
14  Disable developer mode : Should be protected, and Security measures should be 
placed.  
Table ( 2):  MINIMUM TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS  FOR OTT BOX  
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 7- Minimum Technical Requirements for Hybrid Box  
In addition to the requirements mentioned in the previous tables, you must adhere to the 
following requirements.  
S/N FEATURES  Reference/ Details  
1  HDMI part:  Mandatory requirement.  
2  Support Language:  Arabic/ English  
3  Building 
distribution/Motorized 
Dish/Consumer level : DiSEqC 1.0/1.1/2.0/1.2  
4  Output Resolution:  SD/HD  
5  Side Loading Protection : Should not be allowed to  download from external 
sources, and only the official application stores are 
allowed.  
6  Disable developer mode : Should be protected, and Security measures should be 
placed.  
7  Connectivity : Required either Wi -Fi or Ethernet.  
8  Basic STB : Compact design with DVB -T, DVB -S Tuner  
9  User Manual in the 
Packaging box:  User manual should be at least (Arabic and English 
languages)  
10  HDMI Cable in the 
Packaging box:  Should be compatible with the highest resolution 
supported by the device  
Anti -Piracy Requirements  
11  Side Loading Protection : Should not be allowed to download from external 
sources, and only the official application stores are 
allowed.  
12  Disable developer mode : Should be protected, and Security measures should be 
placed.  
Table ( 3):  MINIMUM TECHNICAL  REQUIREMENTS  FOR HYBRID BOX  
 
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