Advanced HDR by Technicolor is in use at Capitol Broadcasting to transmit HDR content over ATSC 3.0 broadcasts, and at Ateme to integrate HDR processing into Kyrion encoder/decoders.
Advanced HDR by Technicolor is in use at Capitol Broadcasting to transmit HDR content over ATSC 3.0-enabled broadcasts, and at Ateme to integrate HDR processing into its Kyrion encoders and decoders.
Bandwidth efficiency is a growing concern in the competitive world of broadcasting today. Many stations are called on to deliver multiple channels, at high-quality, over a single 6 MHz spectrum.
As part of a strategic initiative, Capitol Broadcasting has rolled out Advanced HDR by Technicolor at its FOX affiliate station WRAZ. Advanced HDR by Technicolor is a suite of automated conversion processes between SDR and HDR that is able to aggregate and generate a single, consistent, high-quality broadcast stream in users’ preferred formats. A collaboration between Philips, InterDigital and Technicolor, its processing includes tuning capabilities to match particular video quality requirements.
Bandwidth Efficient HDR
Capitol Broadcasting selected Advanced HDR by Technicolor because of its high visual quality, straightforward workflow and bandwidth efficiency. “Their engineering team explored the potential of Advanced HDR by Technicolor – specifically the SL-HDR1 format – to create high-quality visual content, using its single stream system to help lower costs,” said Valérie Allie, Video Solutions Group Director at InterDigital, a wireless communication and video research group.
It is an efficient way of dealing with the inconsistencies that exist in live HDR broadcast workflows right now. For example, cameras, monitors and video analysis equipment may or may not be HDR capable. Operators have varying degrees of expertise in the necessary skills, and most archival content is still not HDR, though it may need to be shown alongside HDR material during broadcast. Finally, only some viewers own HDR receivers. SL-HDR1 has been adopted as part of ATSC 3.0, and is implemented in real-time in the Cobalt Digital 9904-UDX-4K card.
Valérie said, “Bandwidth optimisation is vital for television operators like Capitol Broadcasting. Advanced HDR by Technicolor enables stations to expand their services, improve resolution, and enhance overall video quality while delivering additional channels within the same spectrum.” In multiple steps, Advanced HDR by Technicolor converts legacy SDR signals and content to HDR, and then supports both SDR and HDR emission.
Dynamic Processing
For the up-conversion steps, it uses Technicolor HDR Intelligent Tone Management (ITM) to perform a dynamic conversion, analysing each frame, plus the preceding frames, and choosing a best-possible mapping process.
For the outputting steps, SL-HDR1 first generates an SDR version of the HDR signal, again using a dynamic algorithm chosen to match the content and optimise for quality. Then it generates a single signal that would be compatible with both SDR and HDR receivers. This step also generates metadata that allows a SL-HDR1-compatible receiver to recover the original HDR content, while SDR receivers just display the SDR content.
Workflow Convergence
Capitol Broadcasting is locally owned and operates the NBC affiliate, WRAL, and the FOX affiliate, WRAZ, in the Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina market. After conducting live tests on WRAZ, the engineering team saw improvements from the capabilities resulting from the Advanced HDR by Technicolor processing.
Furthermore, the effect that Advanced HDR by Technicolor can have on bringing workflows together for broadcast operations is significant. “This technology allows Capitol Broadcasting to explore multiple distribution scenarios without adding operational complexity while keeping technical infrastructures agile,” Valérie said.
Valérie Allie, Video Solutions Group Director at InterDigital
This deployment also highlights Capitol Broadcasting’s work to deliver high quality content, while optimizing management of existing technical resources. Elsewhere, Ateme in France has integrated Advanced HDR by Technicolor’s dynamic HDR processing into its Kyrion encoding and decoding hardware.
Real-time HDR Optimisation
Ateme considers the system’s scene-by-scene HDR optimisation to be especially valuable for live sports content, where the viewer experience is critical. The integration will enable content providers to move past static HDR to deliver a richer, more immersive visual experience. This dynamic HDR capability is also expected to create new opportunities for engaging fans and enhancing the live broadcast experience, especially when combined with new audio techniques.
The Kyrion high-performance devices support versatile video contribution and distribution applications. With multi-codec support, they maintain ultra-low latency and high video quality, and include robust connectivity options for professional broadcast workflows, from SD to UHD. This Advanced HDR by Technicolor integration follows its successful deployment in Ateme’s TITAN video compression equipment.
"As HDR adoption grows, particularly for sports broadcasts, Ateme continues to develop the potential for improved video quality. By integrating Advanced HDR by Technicolor into our Kyrion products, we are enabling content owners to deliver dynamic HDR that brings video to life," said Julien Mandel, Sr. Solution Marketing Director, Contribution and Distribution, at Ateme. "
"Advanced HDR by Technicolor will enhance Kyrion’s ability to preserve visual quality while converting SDR content to HDR in real time,” said Valerie Allie, Sr. Video Solutions Group Director, InterDigital. “Broadcasters can elevate their existing material without complex workflows as they deliver content to HDR and SDR audiences alike." advancedhdrbytechnicolor.com
