The RTVE Chair at the UPM presents the first production and broadcast in Spain of the UHD1 signal

This experience is the first production and broadcast in Spain, using DVB-T2, of a 4K Ultra High Definition signal, including high frame refresh rate, high dynamic range, expanded color space and new generation audio.

Spanish Radio Television (RTVE) and the Higher Technical School of Telecommunications Engineers of the Polytechnic University of Madrid (ETSIT-UPM) have presented this Thursday, within the framework of the RTVE Chair at the UPM, the first production and broadcast in Spain, through DVB-T2, of 4K Ultra High Definition signal, including high frame refresh rate, high dynamic range, expanded color space and next-generation audio. The presentation, in the Aula Magna of the RTVE Institute, was attended by specialists from RTVE, the ETSIT-UPM, the Ministry of Economy and Business, and representatives of companies and operators in the sector.

At the inauguration, Federico Montero Hita, corporate general director of RTVE, has stated that, for Spanish Radiotelevision, "this type of pilots consolidates RTVE as one of the most important driving elements in our country in technological innovation in the field of television. And the work we carry out with the Chair at the Polytechnic University of Madrid is aimed at strengthening this position in the sector."

Felix Perez, director of the ETSIT-UPM, has thanked RTVE for its support and trust in the Chair with the UPM, throughout these almost 4 years. "We are two institutions with a strong vocation for public service, committed to technological innovation in the audiovisual sector. This type of pilot facilitates research into new signal formats and new program production mechanisms, facilitating progress in this very significant line such as new TV signals, and future audiovisual content distribution systems, very important areas in our content, both teaching and research."

Pere Vila, director of Technological Strategy and Digital Innovation at RTVE, has presented the strategic lines of the Chair and its objectives. Among the goals it pursues, he noted, are "acquiring knowledge in these new technologies such as 4K, with its new technological aspects (HDR, HFR, improved color, audio with a greater sense of immersion...), DVB T2, the benefits of new networks and 5G technology. We plan to try them, to the extent that the availability of commercial equipment allows us, and to gain experience in these topics. Collaboration with other companies is essential to achieve this."

Durante toda la mañana, los diferentes ponentes han presentado el piloto de emisión de señal de ultra alta definición en 4K (UHD1), emitido mediante DVB-T2 (la futura evolución de la actual TDT).

The emitted signal includes high dynamic range (HDR), which is closer to the sensation of contrast between light and dark scenes that an observer has in reality; expanded color gamout (Wider Color Gamout – WCG), which allows the representation of a greater range of colors compared to the currently broadcast signal; high image refresh rate (High Frame Rate – HFR), which provides a more natural sensation of the objects observed on the screen, especially when they present very fast movement (sports scenes, action...) and are observed on large format screens, such as those used to display 4K content; and new generation audio (Next Generation Audio – NGA), in format Dolby Atmos, which allows the organization of content into objects, and makes it easier to obtain the maximum benefit and quality from the available audio playback devices, providing a greater sense of realism and immersion in the scene. HEVC has been used for video encoding and AC4 for audio encoding.

The general presentation of the project was carried out by Jose Manuel Menendez, director of the RTVE Chair at the UPM. Juan Carlos González, RTVE director, described the production of the broadcast content, which includes training scenes of the Spanish women's artistic gymnastics team. Adrian Gonzalez, of Sgo, detailed some aspects of the difficulties encountered during the post-production process. The special problem posed by the encoding of video content with HFR was commented on by Antonio José Sánchez, from Sapec, while the particular aspects involved in recording with HDR was commented on by Jorge de la Torre, of Abacanto. Finally, audio post-production, in Dolby Atmos, and its advantages were commented by Juan Bardem, from RTVE, and the issues related to the broadcast of content in DVB-T2 by Raul Cortes, of Cellnex.

The DVB-T2 signal has been broadcast from the ETSIT-UPM headquarters in Ciudad Universitaria, on UHF channel 44 (temporarily assigned to the RTVE Chair at the UPM by the Secretary of State for Digital Advancement – SEAD for its test broadcasts), in addition to the UHD 4K channel broadcast by Cellnex Telecom from the Torrespaña and San Fernando de Henares broadcasting centers in Madrid, on channel 32; Collserola and Baix Llobregat in Barcelona, on channel 43; Valencina, in Seville, on channel 36; Mijas, in Malaga, on channel 26; and it has recently been incorporated, with the collaboration of the Televés group corporation, Monte Pedroso, in Santiago de Compostela, on channel 33.

In order to show the signal emitted, the day included the participation of manufacturers LG y Sony.

The RTVE Chair at the UPM, an engine of innovation

The Chair is the result of a cooperation agreement signed in January 2015 between RTVE and the Polytechnic University of Madrid for the development of telecommunications linked to the distribution of audiovisual content.

Through this agreement, the constitution of the RTVE Chair at the UPM was agreed, and a strategic collaboration began between both entities to carry out training, research, study and dissemination activities. RTVE and the Higher Technical School of Telecommunications Engineers of the UPM had already collaborated occasionally in previous experiences, such as the first experimental 4k broadcasts in DTT or, previously, in the first High Definition test broadcasts in DTT, which included interactive services (Campus HD 2006).

At this stage, those that correspond to the technologies likely to be adopted by European broadcasters for the distribution of audiovisual content have been considered as study areas. These technologies constitute an evolution of the current ones and will allow RTVE, in the near future, to continue reaching citizens, in accordance with its nature as a public service, through all those audiovisual platforms that are used in the majority, as long as it is technically possible and economically viable.

The areas of study contemplated in the Chair are the following:
• Carry out UHD broadcast tests, with the HEVC and AC4 audio/video coding standard, linked to both digital terrestrial television broadcasting services (DVB-T2) and digital satellite television services (DVB-S2), with a view to their future implementation in all cases.

• Analyze the particular problems of producing 4K UHD signal productions and broadcasts that incorporate HDR, HFR, HBD, WCG and NGA, in order to offer the best possible signal quality to users.

• Explore the production possibilities offered by the new 5G networks, with SDN, NFV capabilities and deployment of services in the EDGE.
With this Business Chair, RTVE ratifies its commitment to innovation, included in its public service mandate, and to the revitalization of the Spanish audiovisual sector, carrying it out in an open manner with academic institutions and the business world, and using all those standards that allow it to offer, in the near future, improvements in efficiency and quality in the distribution of audiovisual content that are clearly perceived by citizens.

The RTVE Chair at the UPM has an Advisory Committee, which contributes, in a very important way, in determining the pilots on which work is being done, and provides both human and material resources for their implementation. Said Advisory Committee is made up (in alphabetical order) of the companies Cellnex Telecom, Dolby, Sapec and the Televés group. Additionally, the Chair has Abacanto as a collaborating entity.