Keeping pace with technology advancements with the right SI partner
4K / Ultra HD , HDR and broadcast IP ... Jonathan Mortimer , Managing Director , WTS Asia-Pacific , talks
APB through some of the technology transitions impacting the broadcast industry today .
Last December , WTS hosted a discussion forum on high dynamic range ( HDR ) in London . Can you share with us some of the key inputs from the forum , and how significant do you think HDR will be for the broadcast industry ?
Jonathan Mortimer : Just as with 4K / UltraHD ( UHD ), the introduction of HDR — along with higher frame rate and wider colour space , which were also identified by SMPTE in 2013 as key technological goals for the broadcast industry — is far from straightforward . While HDR is likely to be the most significant in terms of the dramatic impact it will have on the viewer experience — and is probably the cheapest of these four developments to achieve — there are definitely issues to overcome .
SMPTE has to ensure that the consumer industry doesn ’ t try to deliver too little too quickly . Without defined standards for colour space and HDR , we risk going through iteration after iteration of consumer TVs , or ending up with an ‘ HDR-ready ’ scenario . We need these standards to know how to implement the transportation of content and the fabrication of equipment . We need them to know how to make content that can be delivered to new HDR screens and older TVs alike , using the same pipeline .
When it comes to delivering HDR , streaming services such as Amazon and Netflix are blazing a trail . They have been delivering 4K / UHD for a little while now , and both HDR and enhanced colour spaces have also become a reality .
While HDR has been widely associated with 4K / UHD , many broadcasters in Asia-Pacific have yet to complete the transition to HD . In your opinion , would HD + HDR be a more feasible and attractive option for broadcasters in the region ?
Mortimer : The main changes when migrating an existing HD studio to HDR or a hybrid HD HDR / SDR system would be to the cameras and to monitoring and measurement systems . The general infrastructure of an HD studio would largely remain the same and be agnostic to the change — meaning that it ’ s far cheaper than going to 4K / UHD HDR .
The considerations for those transitioning from an SD ( SDR ) Infrastructure to HDR with HD , 4K / UHD or any other resolution are considerable . Unlike the above HD example , the whole plant has to change . It would be wise to ensure the infrastructure is 4K / UHD-ready , much as was the case when 3G ( 1080P ) was rolled out . These considerations could include any of the following : 3G SDI , quad link SDI , 6Gb SDI , 12Gb SDI and uncompressed IP . Once we have the infrastructure defined , we still have to consider the variants of HDR .
Another widely discussed topic in recent times is IP broadcast . What approach do you think broadcasters should adopt in this technology transition ?
Mortimer : Installing IP systems relating to SMPTE 2022-6 / 7 can provide significant advantages to broadcasters . If it were just a matter of directly replacing old infrastructure en masse , then there would be no question of not using IP technology . The problem is that — while manufacturers are working hard to get their IP offerings to market — we are still in a transition stage ; many of the systems which are currently in use do not have direct IP I / O . Conversion from the SDI outputs
“ Technology is developing at a great pace , and many broadcasters in Asia-Pacific face the challenge not just of keeping up , but catching up . ”
— JONATHAN MORTIMER Managing Director , WTS Asia-Pacific
of these systems to IP requires costly gateway cards and if there are many of these , the economics of a project could fall . Planning for an IP infrastructure also demands that we consider the transition to 4K / UHD . A significant benefit of IP is in using multicast to distribute signals around a facility . This can greatly reduce the amount of connectivity required ; however , when using 4K / UHD over a 10Gb network this argument diminishes , given we cannot get one uncompressed 4K / UHD signal into 10Gb . 25Gb is now being adopted by a number of manufacturers . However , this remains cost prohibitive , even as 100Gb is sure to be the next development . When it comes to adopting IP , a wait-and-see approach may be advisable .
What are some of the key challenges facing broadcasters in Asia-Pacific today , and how can WTS help them overcome these challenges ?
Mortimer : Technology is developing at a great pace , and many broadcasters in Asia-Pacific face the challenge not just of keeping up , but catching up . Choosing a flexible and futureproof solution is key . As a global company specialising in equipment supply as well as systems integration , WTS understands the challenges our customers face and is in a strong position to help customers choose a solution that is right for their specific aims , at the right budget . Because our operation is global , our systems engineers have gained a really broad experience of the broadcast industry and are able to apply methods and best practices from a wide range of project installations to ensure that we offer our customers the perfect system integration solution . www . apb-news . com
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