Ericsson and BT will showcase their first 4K sports broadcast delivered through a live HEVC contribution link at IBC 2016HEVC leverages new encoding/decoding techniques that facilitate cost efficiencies in the delivery of UHDTV content
Solution meets the continued demands of TV consumers for heightened and more immersive picture quality, particularly for live events
At IBC 2016, Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC), BT Media and Broadcast and BT Sport will showcase their first-ever live demonstration of a high efficiency video coding (HEVC) contribution link used in the delivery of 4K ultra-high definition television (UHDTV). The high performance single-slice HEVC link will be used to broadcast live rugby matches on BT Sport in 4K ultra-high definition during Round 2 of the AVIVA Premiership. The broadcast will be delivered using BTs new links truck.
Together with Ericsson, BT Media and Broadcast (BT M&B) is showing how UHDTV content can be broadcast through one single slice, without any signal stitching. Ericssons new encoding/decoding technology supports HEVC and removes the need for complex AVC quadrant based UHDTV contribution.
This technique offers TV service providers savings of up to 40 percent on bandwidth usage with far greater network efficiencies, as it only requires the use of one encoder/receiver to deliver optimal picture quality.
BT M&B will deliver the signal to Ericssons Playout Centre in Hilversum, Netherlands, and Ericsson will broadcast the rugby matches live and direct to Ericssons booth at IBC 2016 (#1.D61), as well as to BT M&Bs booth (O.C01), located in the outside exhibition area at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre.
Ericsson and BT have a strong history of working together with leadership in UHDTV. Back in 2013, Ericsson and BT also produced the worlds first multi-camera production of a sporting event, displaying it live in a 4:2:2, 10-bit resolution, 4K UHDTV signal at 60 frames per second using AVC. Last year, Ericsson and BT Sport announced that they would work together to launch the UKs first UHDTV channel.
Elisabetta Romano, Vice President and Head of TV and Media, Ericsson, says: Ericsson and BT have a proud history of working together to push boundaries in immersive TV, and this latest 4K HEVC project highlights our focus on delivering new and improved services to todays demanding consumers. This demonstration shows we can drive better quality, operational simplicity and bandwidth efficiency, giving far greater cost-efficiencies in UHDTV delivery by contributing all the video content in a single slice. This is a turning point in UHDTV, making 4K live sports and events a practical, cost-effective and high-quality reality for the first time.
Mark Wilson-Dunn, Vice President at BT M&B, says: Were delighted to be using Ericssons state of the art encoding/decoding equipment for our 4K broadcast at IBC. The combination of the new equipment with our new UHD links truck will deliver unbeatable high-quality sports footage to viewers at this years event. Im looking forward to sharing our joint innovation and how were delivering an even better service to our customers with the rest of the industry at IBC.
Mark Horton, Strategic Product Manager, Encoding Portfolio, Ericsson, will take part in a BT M&B breakfast briefing entitled 4K, HDR and Beyond to discuss the impact of 4K on workflows, the role of standards and pan-industry collaboration, as well as future advances including high dynamic range (HDR), wide color gamut (WCG) and high frame rate (HFR). The briefing will take place at BTs stand at O.C01. Find out more details and book your place here.
NOTES TO EDITORS
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BTs purpose is to use the power of communications to make a better world. It is one of the worlds leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in 180 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband, TV and internet products and services; and converged fixed-mobile products and services. BT consists of six customer-facing lines of business: Consumer, EE, Business and Public Sector, Global Ser
