Determined support from the regional to the high definition

While in June 2009 there were only three regional issues in HD, a year later there are nine already broadcasting in HD tests with the intention of making more and more native HD content. The technical managers of the Spanish regional ones analyze in the TDT-HD days in SICARM 2010 in Murcia the current situation of the take-off of the high definition, the determined support for the HD by the HD by at least the technical tables of the autonomic.

Coinciding with the days on TDT in HD that are held this Wednesday and Thursday at the Auditorium and Congress Center of Murcia, within the framework of Sicarm 2010, the technical managers of the regional ones have shown their firm commitment to the high definition having undertaken projects both in generation of content, as in the research and implementation of issuance systems.

As the Business Director at Abertis Telecom, Oriol Sitjà, the HD in the regional framework goes to two speeds between those that have a complete multiplex for HD, and the regional ones that have to share it, for the moment, with private operators. This logically condition the choice between statistical multiplexation or use only the bitrate that corresponds to them. Sitjà has been confident that the current figure of three million televisions ready to receive DTT-HD signals will be extended to seven before the end of the year.

Diego Lorenzo, technical director of RTRM-7RM has commented that 7 Region of Murcia began its emissions in high-definition tests in August 2009 broadcasting in very restricted areas of the community. This year, once they have proceeded to the blackout, they emit through channel 29 to the entire region expanding coverage to the large population centers of Murcia, Cartagena and Lorca. RTRM uses statistical multiplexation, using conventional emission in SD about 5 Mbps, and between 8 and 11 Mbps for the HD channel. For interactive, among which the digital teletext and radio service stands out, they dedicate only 1.5 Mbps. In recent months, Murcia autonomic has invested in cameras and has renewed matrices and monitoring by launching a new continuity for intake and playout in HD.

On the part of the Dean Autonomic in the issuance of tests in HD, TV3, Lluís Grau stressed that from the Department of Engineering it was close from the first time for the high definition. Between April 2007 and July 2008, they were issuing an HD signal in tests, which had to disappear when the reciprocity agreement with Channel 9 whose broadcast occupied the channel for this experience. During "this dark era", as Grau has described, TV3 continued with its tests internally, returning in June 2009. At this time, they have two multiplex dedicating to the SD channels between 2 and 4 Mbps and between 6 and 16 for the HD. This broadcast was covered in the first stage from Collserla, reaching an audience of more than 80% of the population, corresponding mainly to the Barcelona area. Since January of this year, they have already broadcast from the four main centers that cover Catalonia with a very high coverage percentage.

Televisió de Catalunya currently has two complete HD studies (from one of them there is a daily series) as well as with a small mobile (with 6 cameras), a light (2 cameras + 1), and four autonomous units. The entire production and automation chain (Digion) is prepared for HD.

In terms of formats, Grau stressed that although they have tried both 1080 and 720, they finally opted for 1080i to 25 since there is more material in this format thus avoiding transcoding. Grau has emphasized that when TV3 began its emissions in HD the Matrox themselves, for example, they did not have 720p drivers, highlighting even problems working with 50 frames material instead of 25 getting to lose Time Code itself. Even so, Lluís Grau has recognized that since his experience the "720P is more effective in bandwidth for sports, but there is not so much material in this format."

TV3 emite en su canal en HD un carrusel de unas ocho horas diarias con un par de películas, información meteorológica que se genera en HD automáticamente (Activa Multimèdia), clips de promoción, eventos deportivos en diferido… renovándose la programación cada 8-10 días. A corto plazo quieren poner en marcha un simulcast con el canal principal TV3, aunque están esperando a tener un poco más de material para no tener que acudir al doblado de líneas.

Aragón y Canal 9

Juancho G. Barrecheguren, R&D Director and new projects of the Aragonese Radio and Television Corporation, has a tour of some of the HD tests carried out in Aragon, recognizing “the great support provided by the technicians and TV3 equipment”. When TV3 stopped broadcasting in HD, at that time that Grau has described as dark, Aragon took the opportunity to take over in these pioneering experiences by laboling the HDLAB laboratory. In 2008, they began broadcasting loop with a mix of content and grill. At the moment, they do not plan to launch an issue in simulcast, but to turn their HD broadcast into the second channel with a concept of cultural redifusions of the first native HD channel, which is available, or with UP convert from SD. They have even begun to produce some documentaries in HD. Aragon plans to launch a national center of audiovisual and technologies experiments in which special emphasis will be made in the development of high definition and 3D. In addition, in 2011 they intend to promote a festival of new new technologies in the audiovisual world aimed at the general public, heir to what the Digitea was once.

As far as formats are concerned, according to their experience “there are no subjective differences between 1080 and 720, but the people of the street psychologically ask for 1080 because they associate it with more quality. The progressive in 1080 will be the standard of the future”.

Vicente Pla, head of the Network Unit on TVV-Canal 9, has stressed that at this time they share in their first multiplex with two private ones, having requested evidence in the second multiple 32 for Metropolitan Valencia. Channel 9 broadcasts on its test channel in high definition both Native HD content and a lot of swollen programming from SD. Pla has commented that while the quality is not perfect, they are quite satisfied, although the main stumbling block is the 4: 3 format of the SD material. One of the aspects in which the Valencian autonomic is experiencing is the IP distribution in an experience in which Sape, Grantola, Cisco, GVG, Ericson in the tests while manufacturers of screens and decades such as Arcelik, Sony, Panasonic, Engel or Tecatel participate, check compatibilities.

Asturias and Beleraares

Enrique Mondelo, head of the audiovisual area in RTPA, has confirmed that Asturias opted at first to rent technical equipment and a mobile of eight cameras, with an HD mixer and an EVS server to launch clips with recordings that had been made by Asturias. For this first experience Abertis lent a header with HD coding and Localia gave bandwidth…. H264 was issued to 9 Mbps throughout Asturias. Not having their own equipment, they concluded this first experience.

This year RTPA has acquired a header with HD encoders and when localia disappear they use the bandwidth that they used more the fourth part of the multiplex that was not assisted in Asturias, with statistical multiplexation. They have also set up an HD continuity, a server videos to broadcast movies and series in HD (the Forta has signed a general agreement to provide their regional HD content), and an UP Converter to experiment with SD content. It has also been invested in monitoring and HD screens. His intention, according to Enrique Mondelo, is to launch an HD broadcast loop to start causing people who have HD televisions ready begin to enjoy content.

Jacobo Palazón, director técnico y explotación de Radiotelevisió de les Illes Balers, ha cerrado la ronda de intervención de representantes de las autonómicas asegurando que “hace año éramos muy pesimistas, ahora estamos ilusionados con los resultados en HD de emisiones como la Champion League. El apagón, que en el caso de Baleares se adelantó, provocó que IB3 añadiera valor”. El pasado mes de marzo firmaron un convenio con Abertis para contar con una cabecera HD para emisión en pruebas en el canal 65, con gran cobertura en Baleares con 45 centros, cubriendo prácticamente todo el territorio (compresión a 9 Mbps). También han adaptado su continuidad, adquiriendo nuevo equipamiento HD, esperando a partir de otoño contar con una emisión en simulcast SD-HD en 16:9.

The regional managers have completed their speech on this day stating that the lack of regulation in the sale of televisions has led to generalized confusion among consumers by verifying that they cannot access the broadcast in HD for not having an HD Ready apparatus.

Finally, note that while in June 2009 there were only three regional issues in HD, a year later there are nine already broadcast in HD tests with the intention of issuing more and more native HD content.

The day on tdt HD live

From audiovisual panorama you can follow the main presentations and round tables that are held during this day, clicking on the title of each activity.

Thursday, May 20

10:30

High definition installation at the Real Theater in Madrid
Jorge de la Torre Sánchez-Bavo. Relatter- Real Theater

11:00

Project Avanza TDT-HD
Laura San Nicolás. Cartv Technical Director
Emiliano Bernues. Aragón Telecom director

12:00

Production of a daily series in HD
Ramón Sangrá. Head of Exploitation of the TVC-TV3 Audiovisual Production Center

12:45

Historical documentaries in high definition
Alfonso García, Integra Foundation.
Joaquín Ruipérez, Producer EstudioFuture

13:15

3D production
César Marruedo, technical director of 3D Integral and Official Partner of Epson Spain

16:30

Video coding in HD production
Darío Martín. RTPA Systems Area Head.

16:50

AUDIO MULTICANAL. DOLBY DIGITAL PLUS (E-AC3), MPEG4 AACPLUS V2 (HE-AAC V2)…
José Javier López Monfort. Valencia Polytechnic University

17:10

Issuance in HD
Vicente Pla. Head of the TVV-Canal Network Unit

18:00

RECEPTION IN TDT HD
Daniel Isus, Engel Axil Commercial Director
Mª Jesús Ranguil, Product Director of Gigaset
Fair Rodal Pérez. Director I+D
Constantino Barber. Tecatel R&D I+I Director