The European High Definition Forum, the body led by the EBU and the Digital Interoperability Forum (DIF), which brings together the nine national HDTV fora and the international satellite operators, meets this week in Madrid (Spain), to take stock of the European HDTV situation, and to examine the latest situation on HDTV technology, services, and programmes.
| 100 HDTV channels
There are close to 100 HDTV channels now in Europe, but it still is a mere fraction of the number of standard definition channels available. Yet, at the same time, almost every TV set sold in Europe is 'HDTV-ready'. We have a massive 'HDTV content gap' in Europe, with a crying need for more HDTV broadcasting. It will come, but how can we accelerate the growth of HDTV services, so that the public gets good use of their HD-ready TVs? The EDHF will meditate on this. |  |
EBU results
The group will also hear about important EBU HDTV activities, including the tests of new HDTV programme production formats, and the finalisation of the minimum requirements for 'free to air' HDTV receivers. This will be available shortly from the EBU TECHNICAL website.
Discuss & digest
Between serious discussions, the group will also look at HDTV footage of the most important news event of the year, the inaugeration of President Obama. Seeing how HDTV could change news coverage in the future is an interesting issue for sociologists and for broadcasters. And, as a post script, the 'threat' to HDTV of 3D TV will be on the table. It seems to get everywhere, doesn't it?
For more informatoin on the EHDF, please contact: David Wood (EBU).