One fundamental part of the RRC planning process is to carry out a compatibility analysis. To facilitate this procedure, a reduction in the large number of possible transmitter configurations, down to just a few reference planning configurations, is useful. For compatibility calculations, SFNs may be represented by generic reference networks, whereas single transmitters are described by their “real” characteristics.

This article describes various planning configurations and reference networks for T-DAB and DVB-T, while keeping an eye on DVB-H requirements as well.

Broadband Television (BTV) is a new emerging platform for distributing digital television channels to home consumers using a TV screen.

This article focuses on BTV services which use the conventional telephone infrastructure (i.e. twisted-pair copper lines). These BTV services are often called ADSL TV or DSL TV. Other delivery mechanisms such as coaxial cable, power line communications (PLC), fibre (FTTH) and wireless (UMTS, Wi-Fi and WiMAX) are not covered here.

If commercially successful, Broadband TV may complement traditional DTV services – which use satellite, cable and terrestrial delivery – and may even evolve into a fourth mass-market platform for digital television services.

A bitrate of about 270 Mbit/s is needed to transmit uncompressed digital video that accords with ITU-R Rec. BT. 601 (i.e. standard-definition television). Digital HDTV, on the other hand, needs a considerably greater bitrate and – regardless of the modulation scheme adopted – transmission via traditional broadcast channels is impossible without the application of advanced video compression techniques.

This article gives an overview of the current video coding technologies that are suitable for HDTV transmission; in particular, AVC/H.264.

Formed in 1999, the TV-Anytime Forum is developing open specifications for interoperable and integrated systems that will allow consumer electronics manufacturers, content creators, telecommunications companies, broadcasters and other service providers to most effectively utilize high-volume digital storage (PVRs) in consumer devices. The TV-Anytime Phase 1 specification was published as an ETSI Technical Specification in October 2003.

In the UK, the Digital TV Group set up a test bed in 2004 to prove that TV Anytime is workable within the constraints of the UK DTT platform (DVB-T). If it could be shown to provide a commercial advantage on this platform, then it should also work as the core for almost any other delivery system (e.g. DVB-S, Broadband TV and Mobile TV). This article gives an overview of the TV Anytime system, in the context of the UK test bed.

The exchange of programme material in a digital world involves not only satellite distribution channels, but also important decisions over the best video compression format to use and, of course, the development of meaningful metadata to accompany the content material.

This article provides an introduction to the JIBS platform that has been developed to enable the buying, selling and exchange of educational video clips among broadcasters and educational establishments.

Quality of Service (QoS) in digital television broadcasting has been the subject of many studies during the last decade. This has led to the establishment of various standards and recommendations by organisations such as ETSI and the ITU.

More than twenty relevant parameters and associated measurement methods have been specified by ETSI for DVB but their interpretation, usage and exploitation are often considered “difficult” – in that they require a high level of expertise.

This article describes how three “synthetic” parameters (SAE, SDE and SIE) have been developed to make assessment of QoS considerably easier. They could represent the keystone of QoS in digital TV services.