Digital video compression technology continues to evolve, and the choice of systems presents a difficult challenge for broadcasters and web content providers. In this article, the author explains some of the factors shaping the evolution of video compression technology, and offers some insights into the comparative performance of video compression systems. The article is based on a presentation given in Spring 2003 to the EBU Technical Assembly in Moscow.

This article offers a general overview of the possible strategies for FFT window synchronization in OFDM receivers. These strategies are equally applicable to the T-DAB and DVB-T broadcasting systems.

This article presents the results of field evaluations carried out in Taiwan on the two principal digital TV broadcasting systems in use today – ATSC 8-VSB (developed in North America) and DVB-T COFDM (developed in Europe). The evaluations were carried out in February and March 2001 in the Northern area and the Taipei metropolis of Taiwan.

Based on the subsequent report (which forms the basis for this article), the Taiwan telecommunications authority agreed to deregulate DTV broadcasting and adopt the DVB-T transmission standard. DVB-T is now being used by the five terrestrial television broadcasters in Taiwan.

TV-Anytime is an “open” set of specifications for use with personal video recorders. It is being adapted for use in Europe (the DVB Consortium), Japan (ARIB), the USA (ATSC) and other areas. This article describes Phase 1 of the specifications, which will shortly be published as ETSI Technical Specifications and Reports.

A discussion on the future of radio and television – in a computer-based technology environment – was held at Telewizja Polska S.A. on the 18th June 2002. The event was organized by the editor’s office of the quarterly journal Przeglad Techniki – Radio i Telewizja (RTV Technical Review) on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of television in Poland. The resulting report was published in the Annex to edition No. 3 (121) of that journal and forms the basis for this article.