BBC fully backs Ultra HD, HDR
Andy Quested, the BBC’ s HD & UHD Head of Technology, told delegates at the SES Ultra-HD London conference in June 2017 that the broadcaster was fully behind UHD and the‘ Rec 2020’ standard which allows for High Dynamic Range images.
“ Everything we do today has to stand the test of time. Planet Earth 1, made some 11 years ago, is still being watched and is still selling [ to overseas buyers ]. We are investing in the very best images that can be generated, and also paying considerable attention to audio which is the cherry on the top.”
He explained how important it was that a single standard was employed so as not to disenfranchise existing viewers, and to avoid having to create multiple streams of video for those viewers. The BBC is behind the Hybrid
Which HDR?
The BBC cannot disenfranchise licence fee payers.
• Compatibility with non-HDR TVs is not optional.
• BBC UHD commissions will all be HLG.
• BBC co-productions can be HLG or PQ.
• Acquired programmes usually PQ.
• But BBC distribution will be HLG.
Log Gamma( HLG) transmission system, today. But they can go back to them later if developed jointly by the BBC and NHK of there’ s a market. I am confident that you will Japan. see more UHD especially in high-end drama
“ All future commissions will be made and episodic series, provided we have the in HLG( and PQ [ Perceptual Quantiser ] if budget.” needed by a co-production partner or overseas Quested said that despite pressures – not broadcaster) because we are an international least from the TV retail sector – there was not broadcaster,” he added. a single UHD channel available in the UK. He noted that a lot of programmes are now“ I can watch UHD on Sky, but that is not a made by independent production companies, traditional linear channel …… I could describe including the new BBC Studios.“ As far as it as a‘ live on demand’ service. This is a great independent production houses are concerned, way of doing it because it helps with bandwidth their archive is their long-term pension! They demand. Once Sky gets its act together on also want to produce in the highest-possible HDR, then everyone can see the trials we have standard. So, we are seeing more and more done via the BBC’ s iPlayer and on a much UHD productions underway. Many are greater range of displays,” he predicted. utilising high-quality cameras, but storing the“ I would say that one of the reasons we rushes because the client doesn’ t need UHD have invested in Natural History productions [ in UHD ] is because we are good at it. But there are also some high-end dramas and drama series which should be available as many of them are potentially UHD. I am
sure Sherlock has been shot on suitable cameras, same with Happy Valley, and there are others. Once there is a revenue stream it is going to happen. The next few years will be a mixed environment. There will be HD with HDR, UHD with HDR and there might even be some 8K floating around eventually. But there will not be a single, fixed service, the way we work today. It is all about the value of the programme, the longevity of the programme and it is common sense that where there’ s a value [ in adopting the technology ] it will be used.”
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Netgem powers ZEOP 4K UHD
Telco-focused entertainment
solution provider Netgem has been selected by fibre optic telecoms operator ZEOP, the fastest growing triple-play operator in the Indian Ocean, to deploy a 4K UHD TV service to its customers on the island of Réunion. This agreement extends a long-standing partnership between the two companies to provide a TV solution as part of the operator’ s triple-play proposition.
The Netgem-powered service will enable ZEOP to offer its customers access to a range of 4K UHD services and programming. Part of
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the Océinde Group, ZEOP provides fibre optic tripleplay services to consumers on Réunion Island. This deployment follows five years of successful partnership with Netgem to provide TV services to ZEOP’ s customers, which already delivers a range of HD channels, a VOD catalogue of over 8,000 titles |
and replay and catch-up services.
Xavier Hermesse, CEO of ZEOP, said:“ This new solution comes as a natural next step to our ongoing collaboration with Netgem for our TV service. 4K is a good example of a great innovation that fibre optic cables enable us to offer our customers. I look
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forward to launching 4K on ZEOP and bringing even more advanced television services to our customers.”
Sylvain Thevenot, managing director of Netgem commented:“ 4K is indeed the next disruption in the TV industry. Whereas today 4K remains a premium product in most markets, we are very happy to support partners such as ZEOP as they make the latest TV technology available to all. ZEOP has been a fantastic partner, a challenger operator on its way to becoming a market leader, it’ s great to be able to participate in that success with our TV-as-a-service solution for the connected home.”
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