HDTV-Technology and Trends

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HDTV-Technology and Trends

• By C K Jain
• Station Engineer, DDK Delhi

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High Definition Television

• HDTV allows production and broadcast of TV
  signals with much higher visual information than
  traditional standards like PAL and NTSC.
• High definition television is the highest form of
  digital television and is therefore the best
  available picture on a television.
• It has the aspect ratio same as a movie theater
  screen. This is possibly HDs biggest selling
  point. The other is the resolution.

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HDTV Features

• Up to five times the resolution of SDTV.
• Wider Aspect Ratio of 169.
• Film like picture quality comparable to 35mm
  film.
• Supports 5.1 channel surround sound.
• HDTV is a subset of Digital television.

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SDTV
Vs.
HDTV
SD HD
Aspect Ratio 43 (169) 169
Vertical TV Line 576 (625) 1080 (1125/1250)
Horizontal Pixels 720 1920
Frame Rate 50i, 59.94i 24P, 23.97P, 25P, 50i, 59.94i, 60i
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Marked Difference?
HDTV
SDTV
HDTV
SDTV
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HDTV Advantages?

• Clarity The digital signal is crystal clear and
  noise-free.
• Sharpness In addition to clarity, HDTV provides
  a more intense viewing experience just like a
  digital cinema. The highest resolution HDTV
  format has approximately 2 million pixels
  compared to ½ million in SDTV.
• Wide Screen Picture The aspect ratio is 169
  thus making the image looks "movie-like. Besides
  conventional TV sets, HDTV can be enjoyed on
  larger size Plasma TV, LCD screen and even on
  projection TVs. TV can now be viewed with lesser
  distance thanks to high resolution.
• Digital Sound HDTVs digital audio sounds
  better, just like digital CD. It uses Dolby
  digital sound used on DVDs.
• Repurposing Producing today in HDTV allows you
  to future protect your investment. It will add
  years of shelf life and sales possibilities to
  your programs.

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HDTV Advantages?

• HD is enhancing the value of the content.
• It is high quality in digital and it provides
  content creators and distributors a lot more
  flexibility to create high quality competitive
  content.
• Before HD digital TV formats, the only option for
  high quality content was film, which is expensive
  to shoot, produce and distribute, and cumbersome
  to handle.

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HDTV Formats

• Until now, the world has been used to two basic
  picture formats, 525/59.94 and 625/50, both with
  21 interlace.
• Our lives would have been simpler if a single
  format was adopted worldwide.
• However, this is not to be standards are
  multiple complex.
• The next generation of formats have been
  determined by the compatibility with the existing
  systems, technical issues and political factors.

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DVB Picture Formats
SDTV
SDTV
720 x 576
43
720 x 576
169
50i
50i
EDTV
HDTV
960 x 576
169
1920 x 1080
169
50i
50i
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ATSC Picture Formats
HDTV
1920 x 1080
169
1280 x 720
169
3 Picture Formats 24P, 30P, 60i
3 Picture Formats 24P, 30P, 60P
SDTV
704 x 480
169
704 x 480
43
640 x 480
43
4 Picture Formats 24P, 30P, 60i, 60P
4 Picture Formats 24P, 30P, 60i, 60P
4 Picture Formats 24P, 30P, 60i, 60P
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HDTV Formats

• 1080i1080i format is the picture with 1080
  vertical lines, each with 1920 pixels
  horizontally. It uses interlaced scanning , like
  traditional TV. Interlaced scanning is based on
  the principle that the screen shows every odd
  line at one scan of the screen and then all the
  even lines in a second scan.
• 1080p1080p format is the picture with 1080
  vertical lines with 1920 pixels in each
  horizontal line and p stands for progressive
  scanning.
• 720p720p format makes a picture with 720
  vertical lines, each with 1280 pixels
  horizontally. It also uses progressive scanning,
  like computers, which sends a complete picture 50
  frames per second. It provides the smoothest
  possible motion rendition, but does not have as
  much resolution as 1080i.

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HDTV Image Quality

• The best image in SD format is 720x576 totaling
  4,14,720 pixels. HDTV on the other hand has
  sampling structure of 1920x1080 with total pixels
  20,73, 600.
• Thus, HDTV has five times more samples than SDTV.
  This makes it great viewing experience on normal
  wider screen.
• On the other hand, five times greater pixels can
  be mobilized to support much larger and wider
  screen with the same or more resolution per
  square inch.

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HDTV Carriage

• HDTV can be carried on all available platforms
  i.e. Cable, Satellite, Terrestrial and IPTV.
• But the bandwidth requirement is high.
• HD signal can be distributed on digital cable
  with larger bandwidth.
• HDTV can also be carried on Digital Terrestrial
  Transmitter (DTT).
• Satellite transponders need more than 3 times
  bandwidth.

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HDTV at Homes

• HDTV is best viewed on HDTV receiver.
• HD receivers come with separate receiver box or
  an integrated receiver box.
• The existing TVs can also receive HDTV signals
  with receiver boxes.
• HD ready Plasma and LCD monitors are easily
  available and prices are falling rapidly.

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HD Production

• Program production will require equipment which
  are format specific or support multiple format as
  most picture formats are not directly compatible
  or interchangeable.
• System design needs to accommodate camera,
  storage/recording and editing equipment that are
  specific to picture and sound formats with the
  connectivity requirement.
• A common production format from which all other
  formats could be output would be the ideal
  solution.

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HD Production in SD environment

• For compatibility with the existing HDTV formats,
  production at the site is done mainly in 1080i
  HDTV format, with surround sound audio.
• HD cameras shoot the event in 169 aspect ratio
  but protected for 43.
• The incoming HD signal is split. One HD copy is
  down converted to 576i SD and then routed to the
  existing production and play-out facility to be
  integrated into regular transmission.
• The other HD split goes to a simple HD master
  control room for preserving the master copy or
  for HDTV broadcast.

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Capturing Creation _at_1920x1080
1920 x 1080 High Resolution Real-Time Imaging
_at_1080/24p/25p/30p Progressive
_at_1080/60i, 50i Interlace
Broadcast Live Show Sports Event News
Drama, Documentary
Movie Making
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Format Conversion from 1080/24P Master
24P Original Camera Negative
1080/24P Telecine transfer
1080/24P Program mastering
1080/24P Master tape
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Constraints

• Despite obvious advantages, transmission requires
  extraordinary bandwidth of more than three times
  the capacity of a conventional TV signal.
• TV receivers are estimated to be 30 more
  expensive than today's most costly sets.
• Compatibility of HDTV transmission with the
  current receivers.

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HD Trends in Global Perspective
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Global Presence

• Japan, USA, Korea, Australia have already
  commenced HD production and transmission.
• Europe has been a late starter, but the HD
  momentum is catching speed.
• Asian countries like China, Taiwan, Singapore and
  Hong Kong are expected to adopt HD soon in near
  future.

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HD -- Evolution

• Academically, French "755i" 819-line is the first
  HDTV system in B/W and ceased to exist in mid
  1980.
• Japan pioneered HDTV, commenced broadcast in
  1998. 15 HD channels in operation.
• USA and Australia also adopted HDTV very early.
• CHINA-HDTV productivity activity started from
  2000 onwards. First HDTV channel launched by CCTV
  early 2006. Olympics 2008-full coverage planned
  in HDTV.
• USA-HDTV sets outsold conventional TV sets in
  2006.

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Current Trends

• 24p HD format has been widely accepted as a
  universally mastering format.
• Material can be converted to virtually any HD or
  SD format for broadcasting, archiving, DVD
  mastering and numerous similar applications.
• HD equipment are easily available.

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Current Trends

• Consumers drive the market not the technology.
• Quality is superior but the cost is the
  consideration in Indian market.
• This is why, HDTV is being used in niche
  programming like Science programs, sports events,
  classic dramas, Medical applications etc.
• DVD is giving a taste of quality to viewers.
• This may ultimately pave the way for the TV
  industry to adopt HDTV in other countries
  including India.

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Technology Support to HD

• Advancement in the compression technology has
  halved the required transmission bandwidth.
• Real-time HD encoders for MPEG-4 AVC and Windows
  Media 9 have been developed which are bandwidth
  efficient.
• This will enable the broadcaster to squeeze an
  extra HD channel in the satellite transponder,
  add HD in the existing cable services or make HD
  reality in the digital terrestrial.

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Chain reaction

• Major sports channels go HDTV.
• Build-out of production trucks and studios.
• More affordable HD equipment.
• People buy HDTV sets to see sports.
• Other specialty channels follow suit.
• Price of flat-screens falling rapidly.
• Introduction of HD DVDs.
• Cable/DTH motivated to carry HDTV.
• Network TV gets serious about HDTV, and local
  broadcasters increase HDTV content.
• Consumers are key.

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Present HD Status

• 2m HD Ready Households already in Europe.
• By 2010, 50m HD Ready TV sets in Europe.
• 100 HD channels expected in Europe by 2010.
• HD broadcasts already available in 12 countries,
  USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, South Korea,
  China, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Denmark
  and Norway.

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Present HD Status
As of mid-2006, the US and Japan accounted for
91 of all worldwide HDTV households. Other
countries with significant numbers of HDTV
households include Canada, Australia, and South
Korea.The number of worldwide HDTV households
is expected to spike over the next few years as
new markets for HD services, particularly in
Europe, open up. By the end of 2009, it is
projected that the number of HDTV households will
exceed 55 million.
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High Definition for Sports

• Sports has been driving force for HD for
  broadcasters.
• All Olympic Games and Soccer World cups will be
  produced and broadcast in HD.
• FIFA 2006 World cup, Germany-New HD service
  launched by many broadcasters.
• Doha Asian Games were also partly covered in HD.
• All ICC tournaments to be covered in HD.
• 2010 Commonwealth Games to be partly produced in
  HD.

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HDTV in Indian Perspective
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HDTV in India

• India has all potential HDTV carriage platforms
  i.e. DTTB, Digital Cable and Satellite including
  DTH.
• The sale of home theatre systems is rapidly
  increasing.
• DVDs are already popular in the country and HD
  DVDs have also started coming.
• Indians are sports crazy and will therefore drive
  the craze for HD quality.

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HDTV in India

• Around 3lacs household HD ready in India
  Projected number to be 3mn by 2010.
• Major Production Post-Production houses
  equipped engaged in HD activities commercially
  of late.
• Govt. organisations Rashtrapati Bhavan Lok
  Sabha TV getting HD TV Studio chains.
• HDTV is focus area of 11th five year Plan.

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HDTV in India

• Doordarshan is taking up its pilot project.
• HD equipment are available on hire.
• CAS implementation is likely to act as catalytic
  for the growth of HD in India.
• Growing National economy supportive of HD
  prospect.

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Prerequisites

• A long term policy to be in place.
• A single format to be adopted across the country.
• Delivery methods and the requisite policies may
  also be put in place in time.
• A consumer format for mass distribution of HDTV
  content must initially be accomplished over the
  air.
• To begin with, delivery platforms may be
  initially decided for carrying the HDTV content.

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And the Flip Side of HD!!!

• Sky News anchor had to get his hands waxed to
  avoid annoying view of his extra grown hairs.
• Make-up artists have to revisit their skills to
  accommodate high resolution picture.
• Scenic designers need to have fresh concepts for
  set-designs little things in view would matter.
• Glamour shows on HDTV call for a fitter and
  better shaped bodies to cause pleasing experience.

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Thank you