January-February 2017 NEWS & VIEWS 11
DVB Asia 2016 keeps APAC on track for digital TV migration – and beyond
BANGKOK – When the Digital Video Broadcasting ( DVB ) Project was established in 1993 , its focus was predominately on Europe , before a global expansion began in earnest . In recent times , Asia has begun to dominate DVB ’ s agenda , culminating in a first-ever DVB conference in Asia .
DVB is all about applications , declared DVB chairman Peter MacAvock as he welcomed delegates to the inaugural DVB Asia 2016 conference and exhibition held in Bangkok from November 29 to December 1 .
MacAvock , who was appointed DVB chairman last July , said : “ While others concentrate on developing technologies , DVB considers the application of these technologies .”
This is important , he emphasised , at a time when broadcasters are delivering applications over broadcast and broadband channels to an ever-increasing range of devices . “ How do we prosper in an environment that is increasingly seeing the advent of broadband services ?” he asked .
Graham Mills , chairman of the DVB Commercial Module , proceeded to provide an update on some key DVB work . These include : n Maintaining and updating its wide set of existing standards for cable , terrestrial and satellite transmission . n Enhancing existing broadcast services through new standards . n Evolving existing standards for new services and markets .
For instance , the DVB Steering Board
Better pixels , and not more pixels , is what is required to make 4K / Ultra HD work , said David Wood , Consultant ( Technology and Innovation ) to the EBU . Wood also chairs the DVB CM- UHDTV group that prepared the Commercial Requirements for the DVB UHD-1 Phase 2 systems . The UHD-1 Phase 2 specification , by incorporating HDR , HFR and NGA , promises " better pixels and better sound ." last November approved the UHD-1 Phase 2 specification , which adds support for high dynamic range ( HDR ), high frame rate ( HFR ) and next-generation audio ( NGA ). While the UHD-1 Phase 1 specification promised “ more pixels ”, the new specification is all about “ better pixels and better sound ”, explained Mills .
The main question on many lips , however , remains : Will 4K / Ultra HD ( UHD ) be commercially successful ?
While acknowledging the validity of this concern , David Wood , consultant ( Technology and Innovation ) to the European Broadcasting Union ( EBU ), believes that anecdotal evidence suggests 4K / UHDV will be successful .
Wood , who also chairs the DVB CM- UHDTV group that prepared the Commercial Requirements for the DVB UHD-1 Phase 2 systems , described : “ Human beings are always looking for something better than what they have now , and our expectations for quality have risen over the decades .”
In any event , the 4K / UHD discussion is likely to , increasingly , factor in technologies such as HDR , HFR and NGA .
According to Wood , EBU tests have shown that while higher resolution increases perceived quality , it may not necessarily be a sufficient incentive for consumers to move away from HDTV and adopt 4K / UHDTV .
Because less detail is seen as consumers move further away from the TV screen , resolution by itself is insufficient . “ We need not more pixels , but better pixels ,” added Wood . “ The effect of HDR can be seen at close or distant viewing distances , unlike resolution , and HDR adds relatively little to compressed bitrates .”
HDR and HFR have supplanted 4K / UHD in the broadcast conversation , suggested Nils Ahren , regional manager at Rohde & Schwarz . The latter , for instance , improves the sharpness of objects in motion , particularly in sports production .
With the UHD-1 Phase 2 specification , 100 / 120fps , or even 180 / 240fps , is
“ technically achievable ”; correspondingly , it is perhaps inevitable that production and infrastructure ( network and storage ) costs will rise as a result , Ahren added .
While others concentrate on developing technologies , DVB considers the application of these technologies , highlighted the DVB Project ’ s new chairman , Peter MacAvock , as he welcomed delegates to the inaugural DVB Asia 2016 conference and exhibition .
To enable the distribution of 4K / UHDTV , more bitrates will also be required , as he detailed : “ The higher the frame rate , the higher the bitrate . More pictures need to be encoded , and moving scenes do have more details .”
Do not ignore the element of audio , because it could hold the key in improving the 4K / UHD viewing experience , cautioned the EBU ’ s Wood . “ TV is the combination of the image and sound experience , [ and ] the use of an advanced sound system may be needed to provide a step change in quality needed for 4K / UHDTV to be very successful .”
A synonymous name when it comes to audio technologies , Dolby has been working tirelessly to advance NGA . This includes a journey to find the “ missing dimension ”, which has seen the transition from flat surround to 3D Immersive technologies such
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