The EBU's BeyondHD group, as part of the Future Television Strategic Programme, has been meeting in Geneva this week. EBU Members together with Japanese broadcaster NHK, UK-based satellite broadcaster BSkyB, and manufacturers Sony and Panasonic, are jointly discussing UHDTV technologies. On the agenda are new codecs, image formats, higher frame rates, the time scales to market and the potential impact for EBU Members.

There is a common understanding that the time is just right for ensuring that EBU Members' requirements are reflected in the new standards and to investigate potential technologies in the full media eco-chain for an Ultra-HD system.

2013 - a key year

It is expected that 2013 will be the year when the consumer electronics industry will drive consumer expectations with new “Ultra-HD” displays and the professional industry will respond with the first production systems. 2013 is also expected to see further events and production trials in the new formats following the success of UHDTV at the London Olympics this year.

The EBU project is studying higher resolutions (starting with four times HD, called Ultra HD, UHD-1), but in particular higher frame rates.  The group is examing whether multiples of 50 Hz are still required in the future UHDTV standard, which currently does not include 100 Hz, but does include 120 Hz. In addition new studio codecs as proposed by Sony and Panasonic, and the HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) codec for distribution to the home, are on the radar of the group. Tests will be defined to provide clear guidance to the industry, and close liaison with standards bodies such as SMPTE, ITU and HDMI will be maintained.

Join the work

EBU Members and non-members who want to contribute to defining the future of TV are invited to participate actively in the EBU BeyondHD Project Group. You can sign up here.