Advanced Television

Production

HEVC: Ready or not?

The world is about to start embracing the new HEVC compression standard in readiness for Ultra-HDTV and greater transmission efficiencies for all networks. What will this mean for consumers?  How are chipset manufacturers addressing the challenges of getting product to market?  Are set-top box manufacturers ready for these changes? How expensive will the transition be […]

March 18, 2014

Japan commits to 8K/Super Hi-Vision

While many of the world’s leading TV companies start thinking about transmitting 4K/Ultra-HD-1 as the industry’s ‘next step’ in its evolution from black & white, to colour, to digital TV and high-definition TV, it seems the Japanese remain committed to their Super Hi-Vision/8K broadcasts. A statement from Japanese public broadcaster NHK on March 17 stated […]

March 18, 2014By Chris Forrester

Ericsson launches Virtualized Encoding

Ericsson predicts there will be 50 billion connected devices by 2020, 15 billion of which will be video enabled. The proliferation of these devices, combined with consumer willingness to pay for high quality, premium content, is resulting in a new age of TV Anywhere. Today’s TV service providers must deal with an ever-growing level of […]

March 18, 2014

France Télévisions records Ultra-HD concert

French public broadcaster France Télévisions has captured a major concert in Ultra-HD. France Télévisions is a member of the 4EVER consortium of nine partner organisations designed to research 4K production and workflows. The concert, of the Claudio Monteverdi’s Vêpres Solennelles de la Vierge (in association with Wahoo Production and Château de Versailles Spectacle, took place […]

March 10, 2014By Chris Forrester

DTG: 2014 year Ultra-HD gets defined

Taking what it describes as a “measured and cautious” approach, the DTG, the industry association for digital television in the UK, has suggested that it has the time in the next six to twelve months to define clearly what Ultra-high definition television actually means and what it really means for the UK broadcast industry. Describing […]

January 22, 2014By Colin Mann

BBC: 6 HD streams for Winter Olympics

In addition to 200 hours of network TV coverage, BBC Sport plans to deliver the most complete digital coverage of a Winter Olympic Games to date, including over 650 hours of live action via six HD streams. BBC Sport will also bring all the analysis, insight, news and highlights from Sochi 2014 to audiences wherever […]

January 10, 2014

Amazon teams with Samsung, studios for 4K Ultra HD

Amazon Instant Video has revealed it is working with the world’s leading consumer electronics companies, top Hollywood studios and TV programmers, including Samsung, Warner Bros, Lionsgate, 20th Century Fox, Discovery and others to offer customers a premium 4K Ultra HD experience. The announcement continues Amazon’s commitment to 4K. In December 2013, Amazon Studios announced that […]

January 7, 2014

Netflix Ultra HD on LG TVs

In the presence of an eager press corps at CES in Las Vegas, LG revealed that its broad new 2014 line of Ultra HD TVs with LG’s proprietary webOS Smart TV platform will support content streaming in Ultra HD 4K from Internet television network Netflix. In total, 12 new models comprise LG’s 2014 Ultra HD […]

January 7, 2014By Colin Mann

Sky promotes Attenborough 3D doc with glasses-free display

Media device specialist Stream TV Networks has teamed up with Sky and London’s Natural History Museum to promote the New Year’s Day première of the latest programme from Britain’s best-loved broadcaster. Extinct creatures are brought back to life in David Attenborough’s Natural History Museum Alive 3D, to be broadcast at 6.30pm on New Year’s Day […]

December 31, 2013By Colin Mann

Amazon plans 4K future

Amazon Studios, the original film and TV production arm of Amazon.com, has revealed plans to shoot all 2014 full original series, including comedies and dramas, in 4K Ultra HD. Rival entertainment streaming service Netflix recently confirmed that it is filming its second season of award-winning drama series House of Cards in 4K. “As a premium […]

December 17, 2013By Colin Mann