broadcast – Advanced HDR By Technicolor

Advanced HDR by Technicolor Introduces “No Compromise” Roundtrip Feature for HDR and SDR Live Productions

admin — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 21:09:33 +0000

Advanced HDR by Technicolor Introduces "No Compromise" Roundtrip Feature for HDR and SDR Live Productions

Silver Spring, Maryland Apr 24, 2022 (Issuewire.com) — One of the biggest challenges determining how live broadcasters utilize and deliver high dynamic range (HDR) to audiences around the world revolves around how to efficiently integrate legacy standard dynamic range (SDR) content in a technically effective and cost-efficient manner. What is needed is a superior fidelity two-way conversion process between SDR and HDR.

That is the problem statement behind a new round-trip feature that has been integrated into Advanced HDR by Technicolor, a suite of HDR production, distribution, and display solutions that leverages machine learning to maximize the image quality of any HDR format. Advanced HDR by Technicolor is a collaboration between Philips, InterDigital, and Technicolor.

“Broadcasters working in live broadcast environments — such as sporting events or newscasts — need to address the fact that infrastructure has not evolved to the point that allows HDR to easily be distributed to consumers,” says Tony Bozzini, head of business development, Advanced HDR by Technicolor in a podcast interview for journalists.

Live productions, in particular, operate in very complex environments. These broadcasts often involve a variety of content formats and quality levels. Managing this broad array of content to create HDR and SDR content requires specific tools and solutions that can aggregate and manage multiple formats across new technologies and expensive legacy equipment. Effectively performing these actions is critical to producing consistent and high-quality content in both SDR and HDR.

A solution that is backward compatible and able to create both SDR and HDR without compromising the quality of images in either format is needed to deliver the best viewing experiences to consumers in a single production workflow.

Round-trip Feature from Advanced HDR by Technicolor

“Round-trip is a newly developed feature of Advanced HDR by Technicolor that addresses the complexity of live production. Because most at-home viewers still have legacy televisions, live content in SDR will need to be managed and delivered for the foreseeable future. Broadcasters are looking for ways to preserve the highest quality creative intent designed for SDR, even as HDR signals are presented to consumers who have devices capable of receiving them,” explains Valerie Allie, group director of video solutions at InterDigital.

Being able to preserve the original content creator’s intent in SDR while delivering extremely professional, high-quality HDR gives consumers who have invested significantly in their new HDR TVs a truly immersive viewing experience.

“This is especially important for live broadcasts — such as sporting events and newscasts — because they compete — or compare — admirably with the new HDR visual experiences delivered in theatrical releases and through streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime,” says Bozzini.

A Foundation for Simultaneous SDR-HDR Live Production

There are many new requirements for broadcasters to provide pristine SDR while also creating a high-quality HDR experience since most current transport mechanisms for home viewers are still largely SDR-based.

Bridging the SDR-HDR gap is a challenge that has been a major area of focus for Cobalt Digital — a company that designs and manufactures 12G/6G/3G/HD/SD conversion, throwdown, and multiviewer technology for the production and broadcast television environment.

“What the industry has needed — as adoption of HDR grows — is access to an effective round-trip mechanism that removes the complexity from the production equation,” says Ryan Wallenberg, vice president of engineering, Cobalt Digital.

This approach to the challenge allows content creators to set parameters for image quality and brightness and then let the technology do the rest without degrading the quality of HDR and SDR images.

“That is why the partnership between Cobalt Digital and Advanced HDR by Technicolor is so essential. The solutions we have created enable broadcasters to manage multiple formats and quality levels to deliver SDR and HDR in a seamless, dynamic, and automated process,” says Wallenberg.

With the new round-trip feature from Advanced HDR by Technicolor, Cobalt Digital has been able to incorporate a series of presets on image aesthetic parameters which can be loaded onto its cards which can then be shipped to stations or production trucks.

“Content producers can then plug these presents into the input and output signals and turn on the equipment. It provides sports broadcasters with the best of both worlds, which is important for stations that must still deliver legacy content — like syndicated shows and commercials,” explains Wallenberg.

Harnessing Machine Learning to Manage Dynamic Complexity

Machine learning and automation play a major role in how Advanced HDR by Technicolor helps broadcasters manage the complexity of simultaneous SDR-HDR live productions.

“Advanced HDR by Technicolor solutions have two components. The first is Intelligent Tone Management (ITM), a dynamic tuneable solution that upconverts SDR content to HDR. It streamlines the management of brightness, contrast, and color saturation. ITM is part of our dynamic adaptation capabilities that uses machine learning to adjust live video on a frame-by-frame basis. Round-trip is an extension of Intelligent Tone Management, enabling content producers to select the settings they desire to create HDR,” says InterDigital’s Allie.

The second component is a dynamic and tunable real-time tool that implements the ETSI SL-HDR standards to generate and deliver a single, consistent, high-quality broadcast stream starting from any mix of input content (such as live, movies, news) across a wide range of HDR formats (HDR10, HLG, S-LOG3).

“The round-trip feature is the cherry on top, allowing professionals to connect the Intelligent Tone Management Tool and the SL-HDR capabilities early in the production process,” says Allie.

These and other innovations by Advanced HDR by Technicolor are contributing to the significant progress the broadcast community is making in efforts to embrace and deploy HDR to viewers. Sinclair Broadcast Group — the largest independent broadcaster in the United States with 185 stations — has announced commitments to provide both HDR and SDR signals to viewers using Advanced HDR by Technicolor solutions and equipment by Cobalt Digital.

Editor’s Note: To listen to the audio interview with these executives visit: https://bit.ly/RoundTripAudio. To read the full Q&A with these executives visit: https://bit.ly/RoundTripQA

Demand for Next-Generation HDR Solutions Rises as Broadcasters and Streaming Providers Tap into Content Libraries

admin — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 17:37:31 +0000

Demand for Next-Generation HDR Solutions Rises as Broadcasters and Streaming Providers Tap into Content Libraries

July 15, 2021—Halted production of new content, along with a dramatic increase of consumer demand for video entertainment throughout the COVID-19 crisis, has placed unprecedented demands on the content libraries of broadcasters and streaming providers. As content owners mine their inventory of episodic series and movies produced decades ago, they are exploring how to up-convert content to meet the elevated viewing standards of today’s consumers. So say Ernie Sanchez, co-founder of Cinnafilm, and Tony Bozzini, head of business development for Advanced HDR by Technicolor, in a recent joint interview for journalists.

The problem with legacy content, however, is that it was produced to address the aesthetic demands of the 1990s and 2000s based on the technological limitations—2K high definition (HD) and standard dynamic range (SDR)—of the era. These production values not only fall far short of the visual experiences that audiences expect today, but also are susceptible to unanticipated distortions as they are played on modern TVs and devices if they are not properly converted and managed.

Consequently demand for solutions that enhance video and image processing is creating new opportunities for Advanced HDR by Technicolor and Cinnafilm—a solution provider for post production houses and broadcasters that offers file-based image processing technology services that optimizes television and classic films for modern delivery requirements.

Advanced HDR by Technicolor is a suite of HDR production, distribution and display solutions that leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) to maximize the image quality of any SDR or HDR format. Advanced HDR by Technicolor was designed to protect—and enhance— investments in legacy infrastructure and devices made by industry and consumers.

“The major disruption of content production during the pandemic has created an opportunity to re-introduce—and monetize— decades-old TV shows and movies to a new generation of viewers,” says Ernie Sanchez, co-founder of Cinnafilm.

As 2021 continues to unfold, there are strong indications that the market will see increased re-deployment of legacy content. The reason is simple: it is available and ready to go.

“That is why Advanced HDR by Technicolor and Cinnafilm are collaborating to address the need for simple and scalable solutions that enable content owners to upgrade content libraries from SDR to HDR in a cost effective manner,” says Tony Bozzini, head of business development for Advanced HDR by Technicolor.

Challenges to Upgrading Content to HDR

Upgrading and reformatting legacy content to HDR does present some challenges within the industry. It also has rekindled an ongoing industry debate around what it means to update content for a new generation of viewers.

“There are two very strong camps in this content community today,” explains Sanchez. “One side feels strongly against altering assets and firmly believes content should be broadcast the same way it was filmed. This is a purist approach that advocates for the original intent and is interested in avoiding any alterations to images as they were conceived when originally produced.”

From a practical perspective, however, this method places content providers at the mercy of the broadcast pipeline. For instance, if assets remain SDR and high definition (HD) in a world that has embraced HDR and UHD viewing environments, there’s no way to predict how the consumer will set up their home televisions. It raises critical questions.

“Is the content going to fit to screen? Will a consumer’s TV settings crop out some of the image? It’s an important reminder for purist situations, consumer devices may go ahead and alter the look and feel of the show in a myriad of ways,” says Sanchez

Beyond creative concerns, the size and scope of legacy content libraries introduces concerns surrounding the labor and costs associated with HDR conversion and distribution.

Cinnafilm and Advanced HDR by Technicolor have collaborated to integrate their capabilities into the PixelStrings Software-as-a-Service platform. This enables content owners to convert massive legacy content libraries to HDR in a rapid and cost-effective manner.

“After creatives develop and convert content, they have to address the fact that there are many distribution channels available in different markets throughout the world. These distribution channels vary in capability for content delivery,” says Bozzini.

As a result, creatives need the ability to offer content in multiple flavors—whether it is HD or UHD and SDR or HDR—to match the capabilities of a particular distribution channel and generate revenue.

“Advanced HDR by Technicolor enables engineers to distribute content in both SDR and HDR within a single stream. It leverages the metadata to determine whether a consumer device is capable of supporting SDR or HDR. That is a point of differentiation in a highly competitive marketplace.”

Cinnafilm Releases Dark Energy Xenon, an Automated HDR Conversion Solution Utilizing Advanced HDR by Technicolor for Incredibly Vivid Content Delivery

admin — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 16:50:02 +0000

Cinnafilm Releases Dark Energy Xenon, an Automated HDR Conversion Solution Utilizing Advanced HDR by Technicolor for Incredibly Vivid Content Delivery

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Sept. 12, 2019—Cinnafilm, a media and conversion solutions company, released Xenon, an enterprise-grade High Dynamic Range (HDR) conversion system that provides an incomparable file-based solution for fully automated, high-quality HDR conversions from Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) source material. Xenon’s output capabilities breathe fresh life into SDR libraries for OTT delivery and viewing on the latest home theater technology. It also streamlines editorial and production workflows for non-HDR content to be seamlessly edited into natively-captured HDR material. Xenon converts SDR to HDR using Technicolor HDR Intelligent Tone Management (ITM) technology to generate up to 2,000 nit assets from SDR sources.

Xenon integrates Technicolor HDR ITM and Technicolor HDR (also known as SL-HDR) with the noise reduction capabilities of the renowned Dark Energy noise and texture management toolset. Technicolor HDR ITM is an automated process that tone maps and up-converts SDR video into a native HDR format. Dark Energy, a technology used for over a decade in many of the most prestigious post facilities in the world, removes digital noise and film grain from moving pictures without harming image detail and replicates any grain structure to create the perfect texture for a pleasing, final image. Dark Energy also provides superlative upres, creating stellar UHD/HD from HD/SD sources, respectively. Xenon bridges the gap between existing SDR workflows and source content material and the ever-increasing demands for HDR delivery. Conversions from SDR to HDR video can be exported as SLOG3, HDR-10, or HLG. In addition, the tool will down-convert from those HDR formats to SDR Rec 709 containing Technicolor HDR distribution metadata.

“We have been active in live production over the past several years with Advanced HDR by Technicolor; however, we needed a strong partner in file-based production that would add other aspects of the video toolchain like noise reduction. We believe partnering with Cinnafilm and combining the features of Dark Energy and PixelStrings to be a compelling solution for our customers,” says Thomas Bohan, Head of HDR Program at Technicolor. Cinnafilm’s CEO Lance Maurer says, “The Cinnafilm story started 15 years ago with an unbridled passion for converting and optimizing images for cinematic format. We made quite a mark with our unique blend of image detail retention, quality, and performance, developing several stellar conversion products for broadcast that have become technical cornerstones in modern media supply chains. We continue to push the evolutionary envelope, and it is exciting to be part of a new merge point for consumption in home theater and OTT. Upconversion of SDR material is on the minds of nearly every content provider from both a resolution and color space perspective. The enormous amount of content in libraries to be repurposed for today’s home theaters requires an option such as Xenon, an automated, enterprise-grade solution that makes perfect sense for every budget. We are thrilled to partner with Technicolor, a company known for its legendary excellence and passion for picture quality, to fashion a new class of product – the HDR converter. I think of Xenon as the perfect union of our similar philosophies and elegant technologies. This is a great time to be in this business.”

Dark Energy Xenon ships in Q4 directly from Cinnafilm as part of its array of award-winning enterprise software solutions. Cinnafilm COO Ernie Sanchez will be available for live demonstrations at IBC2019, September 13 – 17 in Amsterdam. Please contact sales@cinnafilm.com to schedule an appointment. For more information on Dark Energy Xenon, please visit https://xenon.cinnafilm.com or contact info@cinnafilm.com.

About Cinnafilm

Cinnafilm, Inc. is a global leader in innovative video optimization solutions for television, film, and multimedia delivery. Harnessing the unmatched computing power of modern graphics cards, Cinnafilm’s patented, 100% file-based software solutions are rapidly changing the field of high-quality image processing. Cinnafilm software is in use today at many of the world’s premier, forward-thinking studios and networks, solving a wide variety of very complex imaging problems including but not limited to restoration and bitrate optimization, noise removal and texture-matching for digital cinema and film, and automatic retiming and standards conversions within real-time transcode workflows Cinnafilm’s corporate office is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Contact
Laquie TN Campbell, Director of Marketing
laquie@cinnafilm.com
505.242.6626

Arte New 4K HDR Trial in September

admin — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 16:43:18 +0000

Arte New 4K HDR Trial in September

August 20, 2018—Following previous experimentations featuring ballet (in 2016) and opera (in 2017), Arte has announced the launch of a new 4K/HDR technical trial period from September 12th to 22nd.

The Franco-German channel has partnered with Amazon CloudFront, AWS Elemental, Anyware Vidéo, ATEME, Cobalt, Globecast, Molotov, Philips, SES, TDF and Technicolor to produce a 4K HDR10 homogeneous version from 1080i original programme Arte Live, by using native UHD-HDR content when available or by upgrading Arte Live HD images into an UHD-HDR version.

The show will then be broadcast on various platforms, such as the DTT network in Paris, Toulouse and Nantes, Astra DTH platform, HbbTV connected TVs and OTT service Molotov.

This trial will help the partners study and compare the quality of images across the broadcast systems and the various transmission standards chosen (HDR10,HLG, SL-HDR, HD, UHD).

The video feeds of the experimentation will also be available at the IBC Show next month.

From Pascale Paoli-Lebailly in Paris

Technicolor’s Alan Stein Discusses the Impact of SL-HDR1 as a Proposed ATSC Standard

admin — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 02:34:26 +0000

Technicolor’s Alan Stein Discusses the Impact of SL-HDR1 as a Proposed ATSC Standard

LAS VEGAS – Jan. 9, 2018—2018—In the final days of December 2017, the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) approved Technicolor’s SL-HDR1 amendment as a Proposed Standard, and once voted on, is expected to be added as an option to the ATSC A/341 video standard.

SL-HDR1 is Technicolor’s recommendation for a single-layer solution to support compatibility with all non-HDR screens and non-HDR equipment. With the acceptance of Technicolor’s solution to bridge the gap between single dynamic range (SDR) and high dynamic range (HDR), the broadcast industry can confidently begin implementing HDR, says Alan Stein, vice president of technology and standards, Technicolor, in a podcast interview for journalists during the CES 2018 conference in Las Vegas.

“SL-HDR1 technology allows a broadcaster to deliver a signal that can be rendered as SDR as well as HDR. The bitstream is SDR and it contains an extra packet which enables HDR reconstruction,” explains Stein. “This packet is metadata that—in essence—reconstructs the HDR signal as it was captured or constructed. The metadata is encapsulated in the video bitstream. Devices that don’t support HDR will simply ignore that part of the bitstream, while devices that support SL-HDR1—for example, LG TVs read the metadata, decode it and reconstruct HDR video.”

“SL-HDR1 technology allows a broadcaster to deliver a signal that can be rendered as SDR as well as HDR. The bitstream is SDR and it contains an extra packet which enables HDR reconstruction,” explains Stein. “This packet is metadata that—in essence—reconstructs the HDR signal as it was captured or constructed. The metadata is encapsulated in the video bitstream. Devices that don’t support HDR will simply ignore that part of the bitstream, while devices that support SL-HDR1—for example, LG TVs read the metadata, decode it and reconstruct HDR video.”

Ultimately, this means broadcasters just need to produce content in HDR, and that content can be automatically converted into a format for both legacy screens and HDR screens. The content is broadcast in a single layer, which efficiently uses network resources and eliminates the need for parallel HDR/SDR infrastructure in the content capture, creation, and distribution process. SL-HDR1 also ensures content is properly distributed and accurately displayed on both HDR and SDR displays, for consistent end-user viewing quality on every device type.

According to Stein, Technicolor’s SL-HDR1 amendment to the ATSC A/341 has moved to proposed standards status, which is the last step before finalizing it as an option in the video standard.

“With this pivotal step, broadcasters and equipment vendors have far more confidence in the maturity of SL-HDR1. They know that at this juncture, the amendment is stable and not going to change substantively,” says Stein. “Vendors will implement SL-HDR1 with high confidence that, if they adhere to the specification, interoperability will be assured.”

“For broadcasters,” he adds, proposed standard approval starts a clock. The broadcasters know that within a short fixed period that the standard will be finalized, and in coming months they will see that technology implemented in commercial products.”

ATSC membership now votes on the proposed SL-HDR1 amendment ballot. Within the first quarter of 2018, there is every reason to expect that SL-HDR1 will be integrated into the existing ATSC A/341 standard.

To listen in on the entire interview with Alan Stein, visit: https://www.dropbox.com/s/uuvhyo3sp7kt04y/12_15_2017_Alan…

Photo: https://www.prlog.org/12679366/1

Embedded Technology From Technicolor® Enables Broadcasters to Remonetize SDR Content for HDR Distribution Using Existing Hardware

admin — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 02:25:20 +0000

Embedded Technology From Technicolor® Enables Broadcasters to Remonetize SDR Content for HDR Distribution Using Existing Hardware

CHAMPAIGN, Ill.—Cobalt Digital today announced that it is the first U.S. manufacturer selected to license Technicolor’s High Dynamic Range (HDR) Intelligent Tone Management (ITM) technology for the broadcast television environment. Cobalt will make the Technicolor HDR ITM feature optionally available on its new series of 12G/6G/3G/HD/SD-SDI 4K cards for the openGear® platform.

“We are delighted that a company as prestigious as Technicolor has selected us to represent its contribution to HDR viewing. The reputation established by Technicolor’s technology over 100 years is second to none,” said Bob McAlpine, CEO, Cobalt Digital. “The licenses with Cobalt products, which have earned their own stellar reputation for quality and reliability, will be professionally managed through Technicolor’s partner program. Over the past 20 years, Cobalt has developed many problem-solving products that help customers get their jobs done, and combining Technicolor’s HDR ITM processing with Cobalt’s latest 12G/6G/3G/HD/SD-SDI 4K up/down/cross-conversion platform is going to make a lot of engineers happy.”

Technicolor’s ITM SDR-to-HDR process manages brighter lights and darker shadows to deliver sharper, more realistic images for the most compelling immersive entertainment experiences. Technicolor HDR ITM offers an immediate opportunity to unlock the millions of hours of existing SDR content and release it into an HDR world. Technicolor ITM analyzes video content in real-time, enabling adjustments of luminance in the shadows as well as in midtones and highlights by leveraging Technicolor’s color science and color grading plug-ins. This provides broadcasters with an unparalleled level of control, allowing them to expand the content to a wider space and higher dynamic range while being as true as possible to the creative intent of the original content.

In most cases, current broadcast productions require separate SDR and HDR processing paths. SDR and HDR cameras are used simultaneously, and the SDR camera signals are up-mapped to HDR so they can be used with native HDR camera feeds. By adding the outstanding HDR image quality that the Technicolor ITM SDR-to-HDR process provides, Cobalt can offer a solution that eliminates the need for separate processing paths.

For over 20 years, Cobalt has been designing and manufacturing high-quality digital-to-analog converters to meet high demand from mobile truck operators and studio engineers who had to accommodate new SD-SDI digital video signals. Cobalt’s converters allowed customers to continue using their existing CRT monitors, which lacked SDI inputs until they could install monitors with native SD-SDI support. The alliance with Technicolor helps Cobalt continue its tradition of creating products that extend the value of its customers’ existing equipment.

“This announcement contributes to Technicolor’s ongoing mission to bring the best and most immersive cinematic-quality experience to consumers around the world,” said Kirk Barker, senior vice president, emerging products, at Technicolor. “Cobalt Digital is a key player in enabling live sports production. By embedding Technicolor’s HDR technology into Cobalt Digital products, consumers are now able to experience stunning HDR content originally captured, produced, and distributed in SDR.”

Cobalt will begin offering the optional Technicolor HDR ITM feature in the fourth quarter of 2017. More information is available at www.cobaltdigital.com.

About Cobalt Digital

Cobalt Digital Inc. designs and manufactures award-winning 12G/3G/HD/SD and IP-based conversion, terminal, throwdown, and multiviewer technology for the live production and broadcast television environment. As a founding partner in the openGear® initiative, Cobalt offers a full range of openGear video and audio processing card solutions for applications such as closed-caption compliance monitoring, OB production, master control, HD news production, signal transport, audio loudness, and color correction. Cobalt’s Blue Box Group line of interface converter boxes streamlines and simplifies a wide range of 12G/3G/HD/SD and IP-based conversion and signal transport tasks. The company’s multi-image display processors enable multiviewer capabilities in the most demanding studio and remote broadcasting environments. Distributed through a worldwide network of dealers, system integrators, and other partners, Cobalt Digital products are backed with a five-year warranty. More information is available at www.cobaltdigital.com.

Technicolor’s David Touzé Describes How Single-Layer Technology Helps Broadcasters Manage Complexity of Delivering HDR and SDR Content

admin — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 02:18:49 +0000

Technicolor's David Touzé Describes How Single-Layer Technology Helps Broadcasters Manage Complexity of Delivering HDR and SDR Content

DENVER – Oct. 17, 2017—CABLE-TEC EXPO 2017—Although high dynamic range (HDR) technology is on track for substantial growth in the next few years, there are still challenges in supporting all the non-HDR screens on TVs, smartphones, and tablets that still represent the majority of devices currently present in the homes of consumers all around the world, says David Touzé, Senior Research Engineer, Technicolor, in a podcast interview for journalists during the SCTE 2017 conference being held in Denver, Colorado this week.

EDITOR’S NOTE: David Touzé will be participating in a panel discussion on this subject at 3 PM on Wednesday, October 18th, 2017 at the Colorado Convention Center Room 201/203.

“It is for this reason that broadcasters need to be able to distribute both HDR and standard dynamic range—or SDR—content as seamlessly, effectively, and efficiently as possible. The broadcast industry, however, has faced challenges in achieving this objective because several formats of HDR have been introduced by different players across the ecosystem,” explains Touzé. This has created the need for a universal distribution solution that can not only accommodate the complexity associated with different HDR formats but also addresses the need to deliver content to devices that can only accept SDR signals.

“To address this requirement, Technicolor has developed a single-layer solution, known as Technicolor HDR (ETSI standard SL-HDR1), which ensures backward compatibility with all non-HDR screens and non-HDR equipment. Broadcasters just need to produce a single feed, and the technology allows content to be converted into a format for both legacy screens and HDR screens,” says Touzé.

Touzé stresses that the Technicolor approach to HDR is agnostic in nature. The technology accepts any of the HDR formats as inputs and normalizes and delivers content on any SDR or HDR screen.

The single-layer approach makes it possible for broadcasters to more efficiently use network and production resources. It eliminates the need for costly infrastructure upgrades or duplicate processes. SL-HDR1 also ensures that content is properly distributed and accurately displayed simultaneously on both HDR and SDR displays for consistent end-user viewing quality on every device type.

Technicolor HDR has successfully passed through a series of field trials and tests over the past two years.

“Most recently, at the end of July 2017, Technicolor worked with Spectrum SportsNet in Los Angeles to broadcast two Major League Baseball games (between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants), using SL-HDR1 to convert the HDR production to SDR with meta-data for distribution across the United States and the United Kingdom. Devices capable of receiving the HDR signal used the metadata to display the HDR content. Non-HDR devices simply ignored the metadata and displayed the content in SDR.”

To listen in on the entire interview with David Touzé, visit: https://www.dropbox.com/s/rzopw0im6tbbs49/09_27_2017_Davi…

Journalists and analysts are free to pull quotes from this Q&A feature with attribution in media and market reports. For more details and context, contact: Lane Cooper 323 817 7547 Lane.cooper@technicolor.com
Photo: https://www.prlog.org/12671238/1

CABLE-TEC EXPO 2017: Technicolor to Demonstrate and Discuss Innovation in Emerging OTT, Broadband Access and HDR Technologies and Strategies

admin — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 02:10:31 +0000

CABLE-TEC EXPO 2017: Technicolor to Demonstrate and Discuss Innovation in Emerging OTT, Broadband Access and HDR Technologies and Strategies

DENVER – Oct. 13, 2017—SCTE 2017—As the network service provider industry gathers in Denver next week to explore the market trends and technological developments that are transforming this sector, Technicolor executives and subject matter experts will be on hand to showcase solutions and present strategies that are generating results for North American cable operators.

Technicolor will demonstrate the latest Android TV technologies and describe how they are being deployed into homes across the region as the adoption of over-the-top (OTT) services accelerates. New technical and go-to-market developments around the well-received AirTV Player – which integrates OTT and with over-the-air (OTA) capabilities—will be showcased, along with the latest 4K UHD DVD technologies that Technicolor has integrated into TiVo digital recording systems.

On the broadband access front, Technicolor experts will showcase the latest developments in DOCSIS 3.1 customer premises equipment (CPE), as well as the new capabilities that are being built into the emerging generation of Commercial Business Routers (CBRs).

Technicolor will demonstrate the current state of Technicolor HDR, aka SL-HDR1, the single-stream High Dynamic Range (HDR) distribution solution that has been adopted as a candidate standard by ATSC 3.0 – a critical development as HDR technology continues to capture the interest and attention of both consumers and the creative technology value-chain. David Touze, Research Engineer at Technicolor’s Research and Innovation Labs will join Craig Cuttner, SVP, Technology Development & Standards, HBO; and Independent Consultant, Dr. Sean McCarthy, for a panel entitled “Taking a Closer Look at HDR” on October 18, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Room 201/203.

Technicolor will also demonstrate the increasingly important Technicolor HDR Intelligent Tone Management (ITM) technologies that make it possible to effectively and cost-efficiently up-convert Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) content to HDR.

In addition to live demos and panel discussions, Technicolor’s Luis Martinez-Amago, President, Connected Home North America, will be on hand to discuss how the latest trends in video technology and immersive experiences are affecting the cable sector in the region.

Where To Find Technicolor: Meeting Room: MR14 and MR16 Colorado Convention Center 700 14th Street Denver, CO 80202
Visits to the meeting rooms are by appointment only. Those seeking to meet with Technicolor executives and subject matter experts to discuss the strategic, operational, financial, and technological trends that are transforming the cable industry can register here: http://click.technicolor.com/kE0Kd0m00p002Nq0010Y00U
Journalists and analysts interested in scheduling briefings and interviews can contact: Lane Cooper 323 817 7547 Lane.cooper@technicolor.com

Technicolor’s Frank Debo: Network Service Providers in EMEA Turn up the Heat on HDR Adoption

admin — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 02:01:49 +0000

Technicolor’s Frank Debo: Network Service Providers in EMEA Turn up the Heat on HDR Adoption

AMSTERDAM – Sept. 15, 2017—IBC 2017—Network service providers (NSPs) across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) are actively testing and making plans for the deployment of High Dynamic Range (HDR) content over their infrastructures, according to Frank Debo, Vice President for Business Development in the EMEA region for Technicolor’s Connected Home division, in a podcast interview for journalists.

The technology, he says, promises a dramatic, positive impact on the consumer viewing experience with more vivid colors, richer contrasts, deeper shadows, and brighter highlights. But there are challenges. NSPs need standard solutions that reduce the complexities of content creation, distribution, and consumption, and there’s still a shortage of HDR-capable TV sets.

“HDR is really seen as an opportunity, a game-changer,” says Debo. “It’s not only going to help the service providers bring great content to mobile devices—smartphones and tablets—it’s helping also to get superb HDR quality to the TVs in people’s homes. HDR will rapidly become much more widely adopted and, in fact, will become the de facto standard for video distribution.”

Key players in the region, including large service providers like British Telecom, Orange, Liberty Global, Vodafone, and Sky Europe are already engaged in HDR trials. Many, says Debo, are even announcing plans to launch HDR-capable channels in the near future.

“They’re starting field trials to get more familiar with the technology and see how they can also start to deploy it more widely into their footprints. What we also see is that many operators—when they ask for their next-generation solutions through requests for proposals (RFPs)—are seeking support for HDR. That’s an indication that HDR is well on its way to becoming more widely adopted by the service provider community in this region,” explains Debo.

Frank Debo – Technicolor

An effective HDR strategy is also emerging as an important aspect of how NSPs address the rise of over-the-top (OTT) services that are gaining popularity in EMEA.

“I think it’s going to be an absolute must for the NSP. For example, look at Netflix, which is already deploying HDR content on its platform. We are having multiple types of conversations and engagements with service providers about how HDR should be integrated into their OTT response strategies. We are exploring how Technicolor can help to get HDR deployed to mass markets; what needs to happen to address a hybrid environment because all TVs are not HDR-capable yet; and how NSPs can move forward in an effective and cost-efficient manner,” says Debo.

To listen in on the entire podcast interview with Frank Debo, visit: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3ea3dw0d50e4dxe/6_30_2017_Frank…
Journalists and analysts are free to pull quotes from this Q&A feature with attribution in media and market reports. For more details and context, contact: Lane Cooper 323 817 7547 Lane.cooper@technicolor.com
Photo: https://www.prlog.org/12664812/1

Technicolor’s Kirk Barker Discusses How Operators in APAC Region Can Harness HDR to Enhance TV Viewing Experiences

admin — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 01:46:31 +0000

Technicolor’s Kirk Barker Discusses How Operators in APAC Region Can Harness HDR to Enhance TV Viewing Experiences

SINGAPORE – May 25, 2017—CMMA 2017—The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region has its sights on High Dynamic Range (HDR), an imaging technology that manages luminescence to provide richer contrasts, deeper shadows, and brighter highlights. And although standards are still evolving, it’s time to go live with HDR productions, according to Kirk Barker—Senior Vice President of Engineering And Product Management, Technicolorin —a recent podcast for journalists.

“At this point, we’ve been doing a lot of trials, a lot of testing, and we think we have the workflows worked out. It’s time to make this thing real and to really get it out into consumers’ hands. There are no major blockers,” says Barker. “We now have TVs that are in the marketplace that can do in excess of 1,000 nits. We’ve got distribution technologies that are cost-efficient and are able to be done in a way that can support existing infrastructures. And we have production tools and the capabilities to do live productions—in addition to offline workflows. We have everything we need to make it real today.”

Technicolor has been working with a number of partners in the APAC region to roll out HDR technologies.

“What’s exciting is that with some of our solutions we can roll out an upconverted HDR version of either a movie or episodic content at a very small incremental increase to the overall cost of production. So, unlike some of the other technologies —where you have to throw out everything that is currently in place, causing huge capital improvement investments—here’s a technology that has demonstrable value to customers and can be provided at a reasonable cost. It can really put network service providers (NSPs) who deploy HDR in a position to make a difference,” explains Barker.

The other advantage for Asia Pacific is that many countries have relatively high internet speeds. This allows them to deploy HDR technology very quickly without changing out the broadcast infrastructure, utilizing internet protocol (IP) and over-the-top (OTT) services to provide an HDR version of content with even a greater speed to market.

Kirk Barker —Technicolor

Beyond the service provider community, Technicolor is also working with big players in the consumer electronics arena.

“We believe it’s very important to create the best possible displays. That’s why we’ve teamed with partners like LG. The distribution can be done in a way that provides both high-quality SDR signals and high-quality HDR signals, in a compression-efficient manner that is distributed in a way that can be supported from an operational perspective. And that’s why we’re working with partners like SK Broadband,” says Barker.

“Finally, on the production side, it is fine that you can display great content and can distribute great content, but you actually have to create great content. And that’s where we’re working with our partners on the production trucks and on the grading of content to make sure that we really get that part right as well. If we’re not able to produce a really stunning sports game in HDR, then it won’t matter that you have these great TVs.”

To listen to the podcast or read the full Q&A with Kirk Barker visit: http://thefuturetrust.technicolor.com/article/the-future-…
Journalists and analysts are free to pull quotes from this Q&A feature with attribution in media and market reports. For more details and context, contact: Lane Cooper +1 323 817 7547 Lane.cooper@technicolor.com
Andre Rodriguez +1 323 817 6716 andre.rodriguez@technicolor.com
Photo: https://www.prlog.org/12642244/1