What alternatives do broadcasters have beyond HDTV? The latest EBU TR 037 highlights the potential format for production and distribution beyond HDTV considering that they do not necessarily need to be the same. The report defines four profiles - 1080p Advanced 1, 1080p Advanced 2, UHDTV Phase 2a, and UHDTV Phase 2b - that are built not only on the scientifically proven argument that a simple increase in spatial resolution will not satisfy the quality requirements for the wide adoption of a new television system but also on the commercial demand from broadcasters across Europe.
As a consequence, each profile combines the benefits of high dynamic range (HDR) and higher frame rate (HFR) with 1080p or 2160p (4k) resolution. The requirements for backward compatibility with legacy systems are also discussed for each parameters.
Last but not least, the report highlights the need for further study on issues such as HDR dynamic metadata in a production workflow, the impact of colour space and dynamic conversions to allow broadcasters to make fully advised decisions about their next infrastructures and flexible workflows. Best practise guidelines on the operational impact of parameters such as higher dynamic range production and higher frame rates from a technical and creative perspective are needed.
To access the report, click here.