M+E Connections

Fresh off a successful IBC, where its Advanced High Dynamic Range (HDR) delivery system was named the “Best Digital Video Processing Technology” at the CSI (Cable & Satellite International) magazine awards, Technicolor is sharing even more HDR wins, with both hardware and broadcast gains.

A partnership with semiconductor company MStar has yielded huge advanced in enabling advanced HDR set-top-boxes to be produced in volume at low costs, according Brian Jentz, senior director of product management at Technicolor Connected Home.

“Advanced HDR enables a consumer to play back any HDR content on existing standard dynamic range (SDR) TVs, or, if they have a new HDR TV, they can take full advantage of the content,” he said. “This is done by sending one single content stream that includes standard dynamic range data plus HDR, through the use of metadata.

“In addition, Advanced HDR technology creates the ability to up-convert SDR to HDR in the home, on a set-top-box. In so doing, viewers have uninterrupted HDR capability displayed to their TVs.”

Advanced HDR does require additional hardware in set-top-boxes, to do that affordably, the necessary hardware functions are being embedded in silicon, Jentz said. Technicolor is working with system-on-a-chip (SoC) makers to develop those products.

“We worked with MStar early on to integrate our intellectual property into their silicon,” Jentz added. “We worked closely with them in their labs to make sure the video quality was high and up to expectations. And throughout this year we have worked closely with service providers in real-world environments to test out the end-to-end ecosystem. Now we have set-top-boxes available that integrate SoCs like MStar’s that we will be rolling out for live testing.”

In other Technicolor HDR news, video software platform company Zixi is working with Technicolor to demonstrate HDR content via commercial broadcast offerings.

“Delivering true broadcast level contribution with the flexibility and cost structure of the Internet without giving up anything in terms of stability, reliability, security and latency will be critical across live events, live linear and cloud delivery,” said Eric Bolten, VP of business development for Zixi.

Technicolor partnered with Zixi to deliver a 20 Mbps HDR signal from Denver to Los Angele, for a recent Los Angeles Dodgers transmission on Time Warner Communications.