ITV

Tag: ULTRA HD

  • Travelxp’s Prashant Chothani’s 4K HDR TV global mission

    Travelxp’s Prashant Chothani’s 4K HDR TV global mission

    MUMBAI: Prashant Chothani is probably India’s most underrated TV professional and entrepreneur.  The 49-year-old founder of the infotainment channel Travelxp looks more like a typical Kutchi baniya businessman probably involved in the commodities trade. But, Chothani is actually a wiz at all things tech, all things high definition and all things Ultra HD.

    He has been beating a pioneering 4K or UHD HDR (ultra high definition – High Dynamic Range) trail globally. In the process, he’s been getting oodles of accolades worldwide — at almost every 4K gathering  – apart from his home country, India, where almost everyone scoffs at what they call a technology which is years away. Especially considering the rickety cable TV infrastructure that distributes television channels to more than 100 million homes. Chothani is the only Indian who has been co-opted on the Global Ultra HD Forum, which is the organisation responsible for setting standards for the format.

    Since a prophet is respected but in his own home, Chothani has been pushing his Travelxp 4K HDR channel globally. And he’s got a big supporter in the world’s top two satellite operators – SES and Eutelsat – who have been goading him to spread his tentacles even further. Says he: “SES and Eutelsat have been going all out to promote the 4K ecosystem. We have partnered with them for our launches.”

    Earlier this year, he rolled out Travelxp 4K – the world’s first 4K HDR travel channel – in the US with the help of the satellite company SES. The greatest potential is, of course, in Uncle Sam, where operators serving close to 30 million TV homes are currently testing 4K delivery.

    “Operators are hungry for 4K HDR channels. There’s a lot of demand, but limited supply. And, they are awaiting 4K boxes,” says Chothani. “Subscribers are already signing on, as we have signed distribution deals with three small to medium-sized operators.”

    On 1 October, Travelxp 4K HDR  was officially launched in Europe off Eutelsat’s Hotbird 13E.

    Says Chothani: “The majority of operators are planning to launch 4K services in the next six months, and they were waiting for a HDR channel. That is where we come in. The operators will now start testing and sampling it.”

    Hotbird’s market-leading penetration in cable and IPTV networks across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, gives it a wide footprint to get Travelxp the widest coverage. There are plans to widen it even further by taking the channel to APAC and Latin America in the next few months.  To date, Chothani’s company Media WorldWide has a clutch of 10 channels under its belt. 

    At the time of writing Chothani was in Russia, exploring a distribution deal for Putin’s land, and he chatted with Indiantelevision.com over Whatsapp.

    Travelxp 4K has close to 50 hours of 4K HDR content –arguably the largest library globally. “It costs close to $500,000 to produce a good hour of 4K HDR content,” he says. “If you dig for gold, how much you spend to get it is your creativity. But, the market price is what you get when you sell the gold.”

    To get more value out of the content, Chothani has dubbed the Travelxp HD and 4K HDR content filmed all over the world with multicultural hosts in several languages. The programmes are currently available in English, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Serbian, Croatian, Czech and Dutch, and more languages are slated to follow suit.

    The channel has selected HEVC encoding with 10 bits of colour depth (one billion colours), at 50 frames per second. It broadcasts in 10 bits REC 2020 colour space using the new HDR (high dynamic range) standard developed by the BBC and NHK that creates richer and more dynamic images by increasing the contrast ratio between the lightest and darkest areas of the screen and expanding the volume of colours displayed. This standard uses HLG (hybrid log-gamma) technology, enabling legacy standard dynamic (SDR) displays to decode the HDR standard.

    While Chothani has a long way to go with Travelxp 4K HDR, his HD channel has travelled a lot, and is available in around 50 million homes globally.

    “There are other launches planned for the HD service,” he says with a gleam in his eyes. “Very soon. Very soon.  We will be in about 100 million homes in SD and HD worldwide by end-2018.”

    He adds: “We were amongst the first to launch HD programming in India. Now, we are amongst the first in 4K HDR in the world when HD is on its way down worldwide. A year down the line when UHD HDR will have taken root globally, Travelxp 4K will be in every 4K basic packs of most operators by virtue of it being the first mover and because of the quality of HDR content.”

    Chothani would like to make an appeal to the regulator and the TV industry in India.

    “The first round of digitisation of cable TV saw some plain vanilla set-top boxes being brought in to meet deadlines,” he says. “Now, planning for 4K HDR needs to be borne in mind when set-top box standards are drawn up. It requires very little extra investment in hardware and software. This will prevent regrets in the future. I would like Indians to enjoy the experience of 4K HDR from an Indian TV channel provider. ”

    Clearly, this is a man for whom 4K HDR is not just a business,  it is a passion. And, that is the first ingredient needed to achieve success.

    Also Read :

    Travelxp becomes first travel channel to launch in 4K on SES-1 satellite

    Travelxp’s Prashant Chothani’s 4K HDR TV global mission

    Travelxp to launch new Tamil channel; 4K feed before Feb  

    Lifestyle genre: Travel XP HD enters & NDTV Good Times exits Top 5 list in Wk 29

    July: 2 Viacom & 3 south channels among 9 permitted, far short of MIB’s March target

  • LG & SES to demonstrate 4K high frame rate tech

    MUMBAI: SES and LG Electronics will demonstrate OLED TV’s cutting-edge 4K High Frame Rate (HFR) broadcast at the tenth SES Industry Days conference in Luxembourg on 16 & 17 May.

    The 4K HFR content will be transmitted live via an ASTRA satellite at 19.2 degrees East and displayed on LG’s OLED TV, using prototype HFR software. This demonstration will offer visitors the opportunity to experience the highly-improved picture quality of next generation 4K HFR broadcast content.

    HFR is a new broadcast technology that enhances the quality of 4K Ultra HD delivery by increasing frames per second (FPS) up to 120, the maximum for broadcast content, compared to most current technology which typically supports 50 FPS content or less. The enhanced FPS rate is particularly beneficial for fast action such as sports with lifelike, highly fluid images, while eliminating motion-related picture degradation found on conventional TVs such as motion blur and judder.

    In addition to display manufacturers, such as LG, global broadcasters and content providers are also preparing for the launch of the second phase of Ultra HD using the DVB UHD-1 Phase 2 specification, which features 4K HFR technology. The UHD-1 Phase 2 standard includes other cutting-edge technologies such as High Dynamic Range (HDR) and Next-generation Audio (NGA).

    “We are very excited to demonstrate just how effective LG’s OLED TV is as a platform for 4K HFR and other high grade content,” said Sam Kim, senior vice president and head of TV product planning at the LG Home Entertainment Company. “LG is committed to offering consumers around the world the latest in TV technologies and High Frame Rate on OLED TVs must be seen to be believed. Watching 4K HFR content on an OLED TV as it’s being transmitted in real time by ASTRA’s satellite is a great example of pushing the limits of current TV technologies.”

    “SES has been steadily pushing forward the development of Ultra HD, and the Industry Days event has always been an excellent platform to showcase new TV technology,” said Thomas Wrede, Vice President New Technology & Standards at SES. “High Frame Rate will be an important step towards further enhancing the quality of Ultra HD satellite transmissions, in particular for sports and reality TV events. Our continued partnership with LG Electronics is important in setting the broadcast standards of tomorrow and pioneering future TV technologies, and we are very pleased to work with LG Electronics on such an important milestone

  • Adore partners Riedel solution

    MUMBAI: In its continuing quest to provide broadcasters with traditional and new media solutions, systems integrator Adore Technologies Singapore has selected Riedel’s Artist digital matrix intercom solution for Accenture’s state-of-the- art webcast facility in Gurgaon, India.

    “Riedel is known for world-class network and communications products, and its Artist intercom system is a great example. With its outstanding feature set, intuitive interfaces, and scalability, Artist was our only real choice when proposing a robust solution to Accenture,” said Adore Technologies COO Rajesh Yadvendu. “We are pleased to align once more with Riedel on this project, and we’re greatly reassured by the high level of service that we have come to expect from the Riedel team.”

    The Riedel Artist systems will equip Accenture with an advanced modular communications platform that delivers the power and versatility to address the project’s complete gamut of intercom requirements. The Artist’s fiber-based network provides a decentralised infrastructure that can simplify the distribution of audio while providing communications of the highest quality.

    The facility’s new IP infrastructure provides a flexible, format-agnostic, and scalable infrastructure for SD, HD, and Ultra-HD (4K and 8K) video to enable both highly efficient workflows and a reduction in capital and operating costs. In addition, intelligent use of bandwidth harnesses the potential of a 100 Gigabit Ethernet IP network.

    “Adore is a renowned brand in the broadcast and systems integration space with a wealth of experience in system integration,” said Riedel’s director – APAC Cameron O’Neill. “We are proud to have been given the mandate by Adore to equip Accenture’s Gurgaon facility with Riedel’s Artist Intercom systems, and we’re looking forward to this exciting partnership as we increase our level of engagement in India.”

  • 33pc of SES channels are HD, 60pc MPEG-4, growing in Asia

    33pc of SES channels are HD, 60pc MPEG-4, growing in Asia

    MUMBAI: SES S.A. continues to lead High Definition TV (HDTV) development representing the largest HD and Ultra HD (UHD) platform.

    SES is a leading satellite operator and the first to deliver a differentiated and scalable GEO-MEO offering worldwide, with more than 50 satellites in geostationary earth orbit (GEO) and 12 in medium earth orbit (MEO). SES focuses on value-added, end-to-end solutions in four key market verticals (video, enterprise, mobility and government).

    In 2016, the number of HD channels on the SES fleet grew by 7 per cent to 2,495 channels. Today, 33 per cent of all the 7,538 channels on the SES fleet are in HD, with SES carrying 27 per cent of all HD channels globally. In addition, over 60 per cent of all channels on SES’s fleet are now broadcast in the MPEG-4 compression standard.

    The on-going trend of the increasing HDTV penetration in Europe was the key driver of SES’s overall HDTV development, where the number of HDTV channels grew by 14 per cent to more than 750 channels. This performance was complemented by the growth in HDTV across the Americas.

    SES is also continuing to maintain its strong momentum in the introduction of commercial agreements now secured for 21 UHD channels, compared with eight channels a year ago. Today, SES is broadcasting nearly 50 per cent of all the UHD channels carried over satellite globally.

    In 2016, the acquisition of RR Media and the subsequent creation of MX1 through a merger with SES Platform Services supported SES’s unrivalled market traction on new HDTV and UHD channels across Europe and North America, as well as the further expansion of SES’s Video business across fast-growing emerging markets.

    The launch of SES-9 and the continued development of SES’s HD and Ultra HD business were also significant factors supporting growth in Asian markets, where the company is applying its differentiated strategy. The launch of SES-10 and SES-15 later this year will deliver further growth potential for the Americas.

    “With more TV channels than ever before, this confirms SES’s leading role as a TV broadcasting infrastructure and driver of global digitisation” said SES chief commercial officer Ferdinand Kayser. “Through the growth of its channels portfolio and through major acquisitions in 2016, SES is exceptionally well placed to leverage major growth opportunities, especially in new and emerging markets. Our current launch programme is a dynamic engine for this future growth. With more and more channels being broadcast in HD and Ultra HD, 2017 and beyond will see continued growth and accelerated development for SES’s video segment.”

  • 33pc of SES channels are HD, 60pc MPEG-4, growing in Asia

    33pc of SES channels are HD, 60pc MPEG-4, growing in Asia

    MUMBAI: SES S.A. continues to lead High Definition TV (HDTV) development representing the largest HD and Ultra HD (UHD) platform.

    SES is a leading satellite operator and the first to deliver a differentiated and scalable GEO-MEO offering worldwide, with more than 50 satellites in geostationary earth orbit (GEO) and 12 in medium earth orbit (MEO). SES focuses on value-added, end-to-end solutions in four key market verticals (video, enterprise, mobility and government).

    In 2016, the number of HD channels on the SES fleet grew by 7 per cent to 2,495 channels. Today, 33 per cent of all the 7,538 channels on the SES fleet are in HD, with SES carrying 27 per cent of all HD channels globally. In addition, over 60 per cent of all channels on SES’s fleet are now broadcast in the MPEG-4 compression standard.

    The on-going trend of the increasing HDTV penetration in Europe was the key driver of SES’s overall HDTV development, where the number of HDTV channels grew by 14 per cent to more than 750 channels. This performance was complemented by the growth in HDTV across the Americas.

    SES is also continuing to maintain its strong momentum in the introduction of commercial agreements now secured for 21 UHD channels, compared with eight channels a year ago. Today, SES is broadcasting nearly 50 per cent of all the UHD channels carried over satellite globally.

    In 2016, the acquisition of RR Media and the subsequent creation of MX1 through a merger with SES Platform Services supported SES’s unrivalled market traction on new HDTV and UHD channels across Europe and North America, as well as the further expansion of SES’s Video business across fast-growing emerging markets.

    The launch of SES-9 and the continued development of SES’s HD and Ultra HD business were also significant factors supporting growth in Asian markets, where the company is applying its differentiated strategy. The launch of SES-10 and SES-15 later this year will deliver further growth potential for the Americas.

    “With more TV channels than ever before, this confirms SES’s leading role as a TV broadcasting infrastructure and driver of global digitisation” said SES chief commercial officer Ferdinand Kayser. “Through the growth of its channels portfolio and through major acquisitions in 2016, SES is exceptionally well placed to leverage major growth opportunities, especially in new and emerging markets. Our current launch programme is a dynamic engine for this future growth. With more and more channels being broadcast in HD and Ultra HD, 2017 and beyond will see continued growth and accelerated development for SES’s video segment.”

  • Travelxp becomes first travel channel to launch in 4K on SES-1 satellite

    Travelxp becomes first travel channel to launch in 4K on SES-1 satellite

    MUMBAI: SES S.A. (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) today announced that Travelxp 4K, an international travel channel, will make its Ultra HD debut next month on SES’s growing Ultra HD distribution platform serving cable operators and multichannel television platforms throughout North America.

    Offering audiences compelling stories from faraway places, the world’s first 4K travel channel, Travelxp 4K,is set to launch on the SES-1 satellite, one of a trio of SES satellites (SES-1, SES-3, AMC-18) that are home to the region’s leading Ultra HD distribution platform. Travelxp4K, licensed to multichannel video program distributors (MVPDs) by Vivicast Media, is the latest in a series of Ultra HD channels to join SES’s Ultra HD platform, home to nine linear Ultra HD channels as of January. SES has now signed distribution agreements with more than 30 Ultra HD channels globally, of which 21 are commercial.

    Travelxp 4K, a venture of Celebrities Management in India, features hundreds of hours of world class travel programs filmed all over the world. The 4K channel follows the success of Travelxp HD, which offers 100% originally-produced premium travel and lifestyle programmingdistributed to over 50 million homes globally. Travelxp 4K will showcase global travel content with breathtaking images in 10 bit REC2020 color space with HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma) HDR (High Dynamic Range).

    “Travelxp4K is all about bringing the world to homes in stunning resolution. 10 bit REC2020 with HLG HDR will make the viewing experience more immersive and vivid. It’s not just about more pixels in 4K but better pixels,” explained Travelxp 4K CEO Prashant Chothani. “We are delighted to offer viewers a closer and more fascinating look at the world’s most beautiful travel destinations, cultures, and heritage like never before with our 100% original and exclusive 4K programming. By joining SES’s growing Ultra HD bouquet and content distribution platform, Travelxp 4K is well-positioned to reach significant audiences across North America.”

    “SES has created the best and largest bouquet of stunning 4K programming in a single location around the world,” said SES vice president of business development in North America Steve Corda. “People across the U.S. and North America are purchasing Ultra HD TVs at a record pace, with a surge expected this holiday season. Millions of television viewers are now expecting to watch 4K programming on their new screens, and cable operators and other television platform providers are on the verge of satisfying this growing demand with the historic home delivery of linear Ultra HD in the coming weeks and months.”

  • Travelxp becomes first travel channel to launch in 4K on SES-1 satellite

    Travelxp becomes first travel channel to launch in 4K on SES-1 satellite

    MUMBAI: SES S.A. (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) today announced that Travelxp 4K, an international travel channel, will make its Ultra HD debut next month on SES’s growing Ultra HD distribution platform serving cable operators and multichannel television platforms throughout North America.

    Offering audiences compelling stories from faraway places, the world’s first 4K travel channel, Travelxp 4K,is set to launch on the SES-1 satellite, one of a trio of SES satellites (SES-1, SES-3, AMC-18) that are home to the region’s leading Ultra HD distribution platform. Travelxp4K, licensed to multichannel video program distributors (MVPDs) by Vivicast Media, is the latest in a series of Ultra HD channels to join SES’s Ultra HD platform, home to nine linear Ultra HD channels as of January. SES has now signed distribution agreements with more than 30 Ultra HD channels globally, of which 21 are commercial.

    Travelxp 4K, a venture of Celebrities Management in India, features hundreds of hours of world class travel programs filmed all over the world. The 4K channel follows the success of Travelxp HD, which offers 100% originally-produced premium travel and lifestyle programmingdistributed to over 50 million homes globally. Travelxp 4K will showcase global travel content with breathtaking images in 10 bit REC2020 color space with HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma) HDR (High Dynamic Range).

    “Travelxp4K is all about bringing the world to homes in stunning resolution. 10 bit REC2020 with HLG HDR will make the viewing experience more immersive and vivid. It’s not just about more pixels in 4K but better pixels,” explained Travelxp 4K CEO Prashant Chothani. “We are delighted to offer viewers a closer and more fascinating look at the world’s most beautiful travel destinations, cultures, and heritage like never before with our 100% original and exclusive 4K programming. By joining SES’s growing Ultra HD bouquet and content distribution platform, Travelxp 4K is well-positioned to reach significant audiences across North America.”

    “SES has created the best and largest bouquet of stunning 4K programming in a single location around the world,” said SES vice president of business development in North America Steve Corda. “People across the U.S. and North America are purchasing Ultra HD TVs at a record pace, with a surge expected this holiday season. Millions of television viewers are now expecting to watch 4K programming on their new screens, and cable operators and other television platform providers are on the verge of satisfying this growing demand with the historic home delivery of linear Ultra HD in the coming weeks and months.”

  • ‘Inside the Masters of Dirt’ on INsight TV to have non-scripted reality series in ultra-HD

    ‘Inside the Masters of Dirt’ on INsight TV to have non-scripted reality series in ultra-HD

    CANNES: INsight TV has commissioned a new, non-scripted reality series Inside the Masters of Dirt with XTreme Video, which follows the crew that produces the popular freestyle motocross arena show of the same name. Featuring fearless leaders in extreme motorsports, XTreme Video will be the first to present this phenomenon and its creators to fans in a comprehensive package of six 26 minute episodes in Ultra HD.

    The factual reality series follows the Masters of Dirt (M.O.D) crew as they travel the world on their arena tour, meeting and performing for thousands of fans in Dubai, Switzerland, Austria and more. Fans will get unfiltered access into how the M.O.D family creates and executes one of the largest extreme sports arena events, and the wild lifestyle that goes with it.

    “INsight TV is the perfect fit for this series and we’re stoked to be working with them.” says XTreme Video senior director of business development Joe Nilsson, “Viewing in Ultra HD is the perfect way for an audience to fully appreciate the incredible spectacle of the Masters of Dirt.”

    Masters of Dirt is the visionary brainchild of Austrian freestyle mountain biker Georg Fechter. Every show’s concept starts off as a seemingly impossible idea in Georgie’s mind, before being carefully molded and refined into a high-tech theatre production.

    Two of the biggest highlights of the show and by far the most dangerous acts are the Quad (a 200kg Freestyle Quad Bike) and the Sled (a 300kg Snowmobile) both performing aerial stunts and backflips. “We’re excited about all the possibilities this new show can bring us and our passionate fan base,” said Georg Fechter. “This is the stuff dreams are made of. We’ve enjoyed sharing our journey with fans through digital media and look forward to reaching new heights with this new reality TV series.”

    INsight TV has been created for the millennial viewer who wants real trending content told through incredible stories. Viewable in their own time. Wherever and whenever they want. INsight is committed to pushing the boundaries of linear and non-linear broadcasting. The range of programming demonstrates the best of Ultra HD; from beautiful, vivid cinematography to high-speed action.

  • ‘Inside the Masters of Dirt’ on INsight TV to have non-scripted reality series in ultra-HD

    ‘Inside the Masters of Dirt’ on INsight TV to have non-scripted reality series in ultra-HD

    CANNES: INsight TV has commissioned a new, non-scripted reality series Inside the Masters of Dirt with XTreme Video, which follows the crew that produces the popular freestyle motocross arena show of the same name. Featuring fearless leaders in extreme motorsports, XTreme Video will be the first to present this phenomenon and its creators to fans in a comprehensive package of six 26 minute episodes in Ultra HD.

    The factual reality series follows the Masters of Dirt (M.O.D) crew as they travel the world on their arena tour, meeting and performing for thousands of fans in Dubai, Switzerland, Austria and more. Fans will get unfiltered access into how the M.O.D family creates and executes one of the largest extreme sports arena events, and the wild lifestyle that goes with it.

    “INsight TV is the perfect fit for this series and we’re stoked to be working with them.” says XTreme Video senior director of business development Joe Nilsson, “Viewing in Ultra HD is the perfect way for an audience to fully appreciate the incredible spectacle of the Masters of Dirt.”

    Masters of Dirt is the visionary brainchild of Austrian freestyle mountain biker Georg Fechter. Every show’s concept starts off as a seemingly impossible idea in Georgie’s mind, before being carefully molded and refined into a high-tech theatre production.

    Two of the biggest highlights of the show and by far the most dangerous acts are the Quad (a 200kg Freestyle Quad Bike) and the Sled (a 300kg Snowmobile) both performing aerial stunts and backflips. “We’re excited about all the possibilities this new show can bring us and our passionate fan base,” said Georg Fechter. “This is the stuff dreams are made of. We’ve enjoyed sharing our journey with fans through digital media and look forward to reaching new heights with this new reality TV series.”

    INsight TV has been created for the millennial viewer who wants real trending content told through incredible stories. Viewable in their own time. Wherever and whenever they want. INsight is committed to pushing the boundaries of linear and non-linear broadcasting. The range of programming demonstrates the best of Ultra HD; from beautiful, vivid cinematography to high-speed action.

  • IBC to Honour NASA at IBC2016 Awards

    IBC to Honour NASA at IBC2016 Awards

    MUMBAI: IBC announced that it is to give one of its highest awards, the Judges’ Prize, to NASA. Celebrating the achievements of one of the world’s most well known brands, the award will be presented at the ceremony held on Sunday 11 September at the RAI, Amsterdam. NASA’s contribution to the ceremony promises to be literally out of this world.

    From the very beginning, NASA has ensured that every moment of the space exploration programme has been captured, firstly with film cameras and then video, including the globally viewed footage of Neil Armstrong setting foot on the moon in 1969. Today NASA operates a 4K Ultra HD channel and allows viewers to watch footage on a wide range of televisions and internet connected devices.

    The Judges’ Prize is presented to a company or project displaying a unique creative, technical or commercial imagination and past winners include Stereoscopic 3D coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and DNA’s single frequency networks for HD with DVB-T2, which was awarded in 2011. The award will be accepted by Carlos Fontanot, Imagery Manager for the International Space Station and Kelly O. Humphries, the voice of mission control for more than 50 shuttle missions and hundreds of space station activities.

    “It is impossible to understate the importance of NASA’s film and video efforts,” said Michael Crimp, CEO of IBC. “Their engineers and producers have had to overcome massive technical challenges, which has meant close co-operation with suppliers of equipment and systems. The result has been stunning imagery, which has literally changed our view of the world.”

    The IBC Awards Ceremony will take place on Sunday 11 September, and is free for all IBC attendees. Find out more about the awards at IBC.org/awards and register for your IBC2016 pass at IBC.org/register