Business

IBC 2018: UHD Alliance Unveils Pathway for Live, Scripted Broadcast Content to Achieve Ultra HD Premium Certification (MESA)

Before a crowd of broadcast industry executives at IBC 2018, UHD Alliance chairman, Michael Zink, addressed the importance of broadcast content to the Ultra HD ecosystem and recognized the significant strides made in delivering live broadcast content to 4K Ultra HD viewers. “From the outset, the Alliance has been focused not only on helping consumers understand the benefits of 4K UHD with HDR, but also on fostering the growth of the UHD ecosystem,” said UHDA Chairman, Michael Zink.

“Broadcast is a critical component of the content universe, and the recent delivery of marquee events such as the Olympics, the World Cup and Wimbledon in 4K with HDR is a significant step toward ensuring consumers get the most out of today’s 4K UHD with HDR displays.”

Earlier this summer, the UHD Alliance (UHDA), the inter-industry group charged with fostering an ecosystem that fully realizes and promotes the consumer benefits of Ultra HD with HDR, unveiled a formalized path for broadcast content, particularly live content, to meet the ULTRA HD PREMIUM specifications. With this new addition the content specification now addresses the entire in-home content delivery ecosystem, allowing consumers to fully take advantage of their 4K with HDR displays via packaged media, digital and broadcast.

The UHDA previously released premium specifications for the delivery of content via packaged media (Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc), as well as digital distribution, and in September 2017 it announced premium specifications for cable and satellite set-top boxes. The new broadcast recommendations now establish a clear path for broadcast content to meet the ULTRA HD PREMIUM benchmark.

“Accessibility of broadcast content, particularly live sports, has always been critical to consumer adoption of new display technologies,” noted Tristan Veale, Market Analyst at Futuresource Consulting. “We saw a significant uptick in consumer adoption of HDTV in 2006/2007 when broadcast HD content became prevalent.”

In particular, the UHDA’s recommendations align with existing industry workflows, provide flexibility to content producers by allowing broadcasters to move HLG content into a PQ environment and make it easier for broadcasters to expand their 4K Ultra HD with HDR offerings. Moreover, the recommendations make it possible for broadcast content to be distributed in a form that meets the ULTRA HD PREMIUM Content Specification.

“Since its inception the organization has engaged with a wide variety of content creators and distributors,” added UHDA President, Michael Fidler. “This simplified approach to enabling 4K with HDR broadcast provides the basis for our continued discussions with producers and distributors of both scripted and live television content, especially those interested in providing consumers with the best possible in-home experience.”