ATEME, SES trial UHD broadcast using VVC
June 9, 2020
ATEME, a specialist in video delivery solutions, has partnered with SES, VideoLabs and IETR for what they says is the first end-to-end UHD satellite broadcast transmission using the new Versatile Video Coding (VVC) standard.
The test transmission has been launched on SES’ 28.2° East orbital position carrying a UHD video stream using the VVC standard.
In this trial, the UHD TV source is encoded with VVC and encapsulated in MPEG-TS using ATEME’s TITAN Live video processing platform. The streams are modulated using DVB-S2 and broadcast by SES on an Astra 2E transponder, covering the whole of Europe. On the reception side, the signal, demodulated by a DVB to IP gateway, is forwarded via IP to the VLC player that displays the video using the real-time OpenVVC decoder developed by IETR.
The test showcased the following benefits of VVC:
- Optimised Bandwidth Efficiency: Reduced UHD transmission cost with VVC increased compression efficiency
- Increased Audience Reach: DVB-S2 broadcast of VVC increases audience reach and coverage
- Improved Quality of Experience: Provided a high-quality viewing experience using VLC media player
VVC is the latest video coding technology, developed by the Joint Video Experts Team (JVET), formed by experts from ISO/IEC MPEG and ITU-T VCEG. VVC improves on the High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard’s compression efficiency by 50% and addresses all video formats (VR-360°, 3D, 4K, 8K, HDR). Its versatility allows the standard to cover a wide range of applications, from broadcast to OTT delivery.
“Since our first digital transmissions back in 1995, every 10 years the industry has released a new, more efficient video encoding scheme and continuing with our video innovation tradition, we are proud to collaborate with our industry partners on the first satellite broadcast using the VVC codec,” said Thomas Wrede, VP New Technology and Standards, SES.
Mickaël Raulet, VP Innovation, ATEME, added: “At ATEME, we are proud to have contributed to this ground-breaking trial. This test, performed as a part of EFIGI collaborative project, is a great example of how the combined efforts of dedicated professionals can result in driving innovation in the broadcast industry and it proves that VVC is ready to enter the market in July.”