44 DISTRIBUTION
May-June 2016
Should we go for full 4K / UHD and IP ?
Dr Nancy Su is vice-president at Opvision Technology .
by dr nancy su
Technological advances in both protocols and devices are moving fast , thus driving the growth in the complexity of video systems . New technologies such as 4K / Ultra HD ( UHD ) and IP have become “ fancy stuff ” in the broadcast world . Hence , high dynamic range ( HDR ) and high frame rate ( HFR ) are highly popular topics when considering if these technologies can be compatible with current HDTVs .
Should we go for these “ fancy ” technologies ? If yes , how should we make the transition smoothly from where we currently are to that final destination ?
It can be observed that the global broadcast industry is experiencing highly uneven levels of development . For example , developed and developing countries are in vastly different stages in the transition from analogue to digital terrestrial TV , which is a prerequisite to derive the benefits offered by the most advanced technologies .
For instance , in India , the Phase III analogue-to-digital conversion for cable TV is still a hot subject with the digital completion of more than 90 % of households , while this process has been completed for years in Europe and the US , where new technologies always generate the most interest .
Germany-based Cinegy , a provider of production workflow tools , for example , has released the Daniel2 Codec . Unveiled at the recent 2016 NAB Show , the GPUbased acquisition and production codec is applicable to 4K / UHD , 8K and even 16K systems , where multiple streams is usually a must in real time .
The huge gap in technology development among countries and regions indicates that there is no one way nor one technology that is applicable to the whole world . Each country , region or entity has to be clear where they are and what is
The huge gap in technology development among countries and regions indicates that there is no one way or technology that is applicable to the whole world .
needed locally . Only from there , can decision-makers correctly finalise where to go and how to go there .
In the past few years , we have seen the “ up and down ” fate of 3D TV , from which there are lessons we can learn and thus do our best to protect against a similar demise of technologies such as 4K / UHD in the future . What broadcasters can do is to take advantage of the latest technologies and create appropriate applications in their own systems .
In Asia , it is premature to widely adopt technologies such as 4K / UHD , and to execute their implementation may not be that effective at the moment . Instead of investing in 4K / UHD , it might be more practical to work on other enhancements for HDTV-HD , such as HDR , HFR and WCG ( wide colour gamut ), which will allow for the smooth transition from HDTV to 4K / UHD in the future .
When the entire industry is discussing 4K / UHD , delicate changes occur . There is no doubt that higher bitrate content requires more efficient delivery methodologies .
IP-based workflows have become very good options for 4K / UHD , especially in live production . However , when it comes to “ the commercial opportunity for 4K / UHD video services throughout the transition to full IP and softwarebased video delivery ”, we have to acknowledge that there are many issues and hurdles still facing broadcasters .
One key conflict arises from the lack of uniform standards and compatibility of different technologies . As we can learn from the first fully IP studio built in Europe by Belgian public broadcaster VTR , it is currently impossible to achieve full IP broadcasting without close
It is currently impossible to achieve full IP broadcasting without close collaboration between suppliers and broadcasters .
The OPV1000-3G-4T / 4R accommodates current HDTV delivery with a new backhaul solution to support the quad-link functionality of 4K / UHD today by exploiting four signal pathways via 3Gbps SDI feeds . collaboration between suppliers and broadcasters . Thus , each entity has to start from its own position and to do what they can in order to make a smooth transition to full IP infrastructures .
Delivery is one such intermediate segment among a full UHD broadcasting system . This is again a key topic for people to understand if they should move to IP over SDI — or not — as it is hard for most broadcasters to make the decision whether or not to conduct a rebuilding of their equipment , especially when it relates to issues concerning their business for the next five to 10 years .
Attempts to resolve such a dilemma include a feasible alternative of fibre-optic backhaul transport , with the advantages of no bandwidth limitation , high fidelity and no legacy , as compared to an IP solution .
As a result , Opvision has specifically designed the OPV1000- 3G-4T / 4R , which accommodates current HDTV delivery with a new backhaul solution to support the quad-link functionality of 4K / UHD today by exploiting four signal pathways via 3Gbps SDI feeds .
The multiple transport media solution enables the delivery of each individual input independently , without the need to invest in a substantial amount of hardware .
The OPV1000-3G-4T / 4R becomes an ideal solution due to the fact that it can handle the highspeed 3G / HD / SD-SDI signals in both electrical and optical domains . In addition , the mini LCD screen on the front panel enables real-time monitoring of the high data rate content before and after the link .
The industry is at a critical juncture as broadcasters are still unsure about whether to move to IP or 4K / UHD . While we understand that broadcasters want to know if the investments they make today are the right ones to prepare them for the future , we are sure that at least one fact is true . That is , fibre facilities will keep running along with the rise in vast data delivering requirements ; but in the meantime , they must have the capability to embrace future change .
Opvision is committed to helping our users make a smooth transition from existing technologies to IP delivery or 4K / UHD , at a rate that best fits their needs . We continue to provide more integrated functions with efficiency , lowering the cost of operation while maintaining quality and flexibility to help broadcasters grow . ❑