The 4K-UHD Summit starts in which experts around the world debate on ultra high definition

The position of the DTT, the cable, the satellite and the IP distribution in the face of the emergence of the ultra high definition marks the first day of the International UHD summit held in Seville.

Seville has gathered experts around the world for the second year to discuss the development of ultra definition. The 4K-UHD Summit, Organized by Medina Media with audiovisual panorama such as Main Media Partner, it has been inaugurated in this edition with a round table in which cable, satellite and DTT operators have exchanged impressions about the takeoff of the ultra high definition.

Fernando Soto (Movistar), Luis Sahún (Ses Astra), Michel Chabril (Eutelsat), José Antonio Guerra (Hispasat) and Xavier Redón (Cellnex) participated in the panel.

Fernando Soto has started his speech ensuring that Telefónica wants to migrate as quickly as possible to the 4K making a strong commitment in the production of content in ultra high definition. Soto has also advanced that after the success of the broadcast in 4K of the classic Real Madrid-Barça, the operator now considers to start distributing the Moto GP World Cup in this resolution.

Precisely the still little production of 4K content is one of the concerns that operators propose for development.

For its part, Luis Sahún has emphasized the relationship that the development of ultra high definition has with connected television, highlighting that in 2020 there will be 21,000 million devices will be connected at the same time.

The development of 4K technology requires investment in distribution networks as well as in the impulse of connected televisions, stressing that due to the bandwidth that involves the distribution of content in UHD, the satellite will play a prominent role in this new environment.

Xavier Redón ha subrayado que lejos de lo que cabría pensarse, la televisión digital terrestre ofrece gracias a las nuevas tecnologías de multiplexado estadístico, el estándar de compresión HEVC y el de emisión DVB-T2 una extraordinaria plataforma para la distribución de contenidos en UHD.

Como muestra, Cellnex Telecom está emitiendo en directo para Sevilla, Madrid y Barcelona tres señales 4K en simultáneo desde esta 4K Summit empleando para ello un único canal de TDT.

Los Olímpicos, en UHD

Manolo Romero, COI television advisor, of several international sports federations, Vice President of OS and President of ISB (International Sport Broadcasting), has participated in the 4K-UHD Summit of Seville reviewing the link that historically has had the Olympic movement with the technological innovation applied to the audiovisual.

Romero has highlighted how each edition of the Games from Berlin 1936 has been one more step in the adoption of the latest technologies until reaching Rio 2016 where for the first time there have been games at ultra high definition (4K and 8K).

For his part, Paulo Rabello, director of Technology and Architecture on TV Globo, has intervened in Seville to share the experiences of the Brazilian Broadcaster during the 2016 Rio Games where in collaboration with NHK and NBC he carried out a series of pilot experiences in 8K with high dynamic range.

Rabello has assured that while "the UHD is a reality about OTT services but a dream still carries 8K resolutions through the air." He also pointed out that the 4K and 8K will open a new audiovisual language where less cameras will intervene and a more panoramic realization with multiple audio sources will be used. On the other hand, he has been convinced that the high resolutions will open the door to a more immersive and emotional television. Rabello has affirmed that "televisions manufacturers are looking forward to having 4K content to boost the market."

UHD live

Una interesante mesa redonda a reunido en esta 4K-UHD Summit a productoras, fabricantes y proveedores de tecnología. Emili Planas (Mediapro) ha iniciado su intervención asegurando que no necesitamos más píxeles sino más calidad de píxeles. También ha expuesto la posición del grupo audiovisual español ante la Ultra Alta Definición señalando que la apuesta de Mediapro pasa por una producción simultánea durante un tiempo de HD y 4K con alto rango dinámico (HDR).

Cristiano Benzi (Eutelsat) has stressed that the increase in productions in 4K is accelerating the adoption of high resolution. Benzi has highlighted the commitment that the Italian RAI is carrying out by the UHD with several ambitious productions such as the opening of the Holy Door, which has described as the greatest production carried out to date in UHD and HDR.

Klaus Weber (Grass Valley) has made a parallel between the phenomenon that was 3D and the one that is assuming the UHD. In his opinion, the 3D created a frustration in the spectator that will now try to correct the ultra high definition. Weber has pointed out that equipment manufacturers already have a wide range of 4K solutions for collection, mixing, storage and distribution but, nevertheless, from their point of view the producers are still being somewhat reluctant to adopt the UHD as their pattern in production. However, he believes that this situation will change quickly.

For its part, Gustavo Marra (Ateme) has acknowledged that the adoption of the UHD is being much more accelerated than the migration of the SD to the HD and has indicated that the rapid advance in coding technology is opening the door to work with bandwidth so far unthinkable.

Mark Horton (Ericsson) has revealed the progress in HDR to get an immersive television capable of making the most of a high image resolution.