Forget high-definition, broadcasters are now working on an ultra high-definition format known as Super Hi-Vision or SHV, with a resolution 16 times that of a full HD image. The first demonstration delivered by satellite is being staged at the IBC show in Amsterdam, in collaboration between public broadcasters NHK of Japan, RAI in Italy and the BBC in the United Kingdom.
The Super Hi-Vision format is 7680 pixels on 4320 lines at 60 frames per second and it features 22.2 channel surround sound. The native uncompressed bit rate is 24Gbps.
The format was first seen in Europe at IBC two years ago. This is the first public demonstration of a live satellite transmission. Regular demonstrations will be shown on a 7 metre diagonal screen in a specially built theatre during the IBC exhibition.
The BBC will be providing a live feed from a Super Hi-Vision camera showing the River Thames in London, fed over the London fibre network and then via satellite, in partnership with Siemens and SIS Outside Broadcasts. This feed will be compressed using MPEG-2 at 600Mbps.
In Italy, RAI will playout pre-recorded programming, compressed using MPEG-4/H.264 at 140Mbps.
Eutelsat is providing two full transponders on its Atlantic Bird 3 satellite to carry the signals, which will use the new DVB-S2 transmission system.
A conference session entitled ‘Images of tomorrow’ will discuss the practical issues and applications, featuring representatives of the Broadcast Technology Futures group, which includes some of the leading broadcasting research centres in Europe.