Eutelsat launches HDR UHD channel
September 9, 2016
Colin Mann @ IBC
Eutelsat is launching from the HOTBIRD video neighbourhood an Ultra HD channel showing HDR (High Dynamic Range) content using HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) technology, the new HDR standard developed by the BBC and NHK. Eutelsat has teamed up with 4EVER-2, the French collaborative project on Ultra HD, ATEME and Samsung to show the spectacular appeal of HDR Ultra HD at IBC.
Visitors to Eutelsat’s booth at IBC will be invited to watch Ultra HD images encoded using HLG, with HEVC encoding by ATEME. HLG, that was recently adopted by the ITU as an international standard uses a single distribution bitstream which can be decoded by HDR receivers and also by legacy Standard Dynamic (SDR) displays, providing broadcasters with a way to accelerate time-to-market of their Ultra HD content.
The channel – HOTBIRD 4k2 HDR – is broadcasting across Europe from Eutelsat’s flagship HOTBIRD neighbourhood. It is showing sports, cultural and wildlife content from the 4EVER-2 consortium, dBW Communication, The Explorers Network and RAICom. The channel is broadcast at 50 frames per second, with 10 bits of colour depth (one billion colours) in the BT2020 environment. Content will be shown on Samsung’s newest Quantum dot SUHD TV that is capable of producing up to one billion colours and offering more than 1000-nit brightness.
Michel Chabrol, Eutelsat’s Senior Vice President New TV Formats, said the new channel would benefit players in the broadcasting chain who were seeking to acquire expertise in HDR Ultra HD broadcasts. “Since Ultra HD blazed a trail three years ago, Eutelsat’s strategy has been to support our customers as they embrace the race to the highest image quality. HDR is the newest step in this adventure and one that gives new meaning to the industry ambition to deliver a spectacular and immersive viewing experience,” he declared.
How to watch HOTBIRD 4k2 HDR:
HOTBIRD (13° East)
Frequency: 12015 MHz
Horizontal polarization
Symbol rate: 30000
DVB-S2, 8PSK, FEC 5/6
HEVC encoding at 30 Mbit/s