The TV-Anytime specification for programme information data has taken a step forward with recognition of a unique reference scheme as an internet standard.
After two years of work by the TV-Anytime forum, the content reference identifier or CRID has been accepted by the Internet Engineering Task Force as a registered URL prefix, similar to http or ftp in a web address.
The “crid://” scheme has been devised to allow standard references to scheduled broadcasts of media content. It is initially intended that this will be used in embedded links within scheduled programme description metadata.
Essentially it provides a unique name space for scheduled television programmes similar to the mechanism used to identify web pages.
Technically, the document describing the use of the crid prefix becomes an internet RFC or request for comment, the basis for specifying internet standards.