Arqiva is looking to 3D as the next development for the terrestrial platform following the deployment of HD services. The UK transmission company is already working on a terrestrial 3D test using the Service Compatible format favoured by public service broadcasters.
Initial transmissions would be conducted outside of London to a closed user group. Following a series of internal tests, Arqiva is currently seeking rights clearance for some selected 3D content and an initial licence application is already with Ofcom.
Service Compatible broadcasts a regular HD signal to all viewers, while using additional data to complete the picture for those homes with a 3D display.
“Freeview isn’t a dead platform, and since the T2 products we have started to look at where we can go now,” explained Mike Brooks, Arqiva’s head of technical development, DVB-T2. “The T2 network that we’re rolling out [in HD] is for a specific customer, the BBC’s public service multiplexes, so in terms of what the BBC are going to do that would be a question for them. What we’re trying to do is understand the techniques that we would have to employ and make to work if the BBC wants to go down this route. With the digital dividend it may be that we have more T2 networks in the future and they may well want to do 3D if it is established by then and there is sufficient volume of 3D displays out there.”
The BBC, while expressing interest in 3D technology, is far from committing to the format, saying only that it is looking into the filming of parts of the 2012 Olympics. The BBC’s head of 3D and HD Danielle Nagler recently told the 3D Masters Conference that in addition to the ceremonies selected events from the 2012 Summer Olympics would also be included.
“The BBC is considering a small number of 3DTV editorial experiments in the lead up to the 2012 Olympics. These experiments will be undertaken with editorial and technology partners to explore the creative potential of the new format, evaluate the different technology options and help us contribute to the standardisation process,” a BBC spokesperson confirmed. “As is always the case with technological innovations, BBC is committed to exploring 3D developments in television on behalf of licence payers to examine how they may add to the delivery of our public service objectives.”
Any 3D coverage would have to be discussed with the BBC’s fellow members in the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and ultimately need to be approved by the host broadcaster, Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS).
For its part, there is a sense Arqiva, whose transmitter assets once separately belonged to the BBC and the old Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), sees a continuing role for itself in platform innovation.
“As you look at the technology development, Sky has generally led with PVRs and set-top boxes, so what we want to do is to start look where we need to develop some of the Freeview-type services,” said Steve Holebrook, MD, terrestrial broadcast, Arqiva. “Sky’s methodology of deploying this is right for them. They’ve got lots of bandwidth so they can broadcast a completely separate signal and take up the bandwidth that’s there. In general terms, Freeview has a degree of constraint on bandwidth, so we’re looking at different techniques that still allow us to deliver the same types of service to the customer but in a more efficient way.”
Holebrook confirmed that a number of tests had already been conducted “on the bench” and the next stage was to look at doing this over the terrestrial network. “We’ve been able to look at 2D plus Delta, which is significantly more efficient from a bandwidth perspective, which is vitally important for a DTT-type service, we’ve shown it working on the bench and think we can deploy it on a DTT network”.
Brooks added that the present ‘spare’ bandwidth within the UK’s only DVB-T2/MPEG-4 multiplex would be insufficient for the additional 3D data required under the service compatible format. But the way has clearly been left open for new capacity to be purchased for the purposes of 3D when released under the digital dividend.
Arqiva’s most recent achievement – aside from the continuing digital switchover process – has been the implementation of a dedicated HD multiplex that is currently broadcasting BBC HD, ITV1 HD and Channel 4 HD to 50% of the country. It is assumed that following Five’s rejection of a terrestrial HD slot, the new BBC One HD will complete the line-up at launch later this year.
“HD has been deployed in record speed, and that’s by comparison with the way we usually do things on the terrestrial networks, because it takes a lot of planning and a lot of international standardisation,” said Holebrook, adding that the company had received considerable support from regulator, broadcasters and manufacturers alike.
The relatively late decision to clear the BBC’s second multiplex in order to provide room for the terrestrial services meant that a significant amount of reengineering was required, including on those transmitters that had already gone through digital switchover, in order to achieve the 50% coverage of the country ahead of the start of the World Cup in June. “For the manufacturers that we had already placed contracts for DVB-T equipment we had to go back and encourage them to develop T2 equipment in record speed.” As the first country to deploy DVB-T2, and on it for HD, much of the work had to be done especially for the UK market. Holebrook said that the combination of DVB-T2 and MPEG-4 meant that some 17 or 18 SD channels could be run in a standard multiplex – as it stands the increased data rate is initially being used for HD signals – though the regulator Ofcom has said it would be willing for some of the existing DVB-T multiplexes to change their transmission mode in the future.
In order to meet the 50% target, an advanced set of transmitters at five key sites were readied for an additional HD service prior to analogue switch-off. Sites that were being converted for DSO also had the upgrade and the plan is to return to the earlier sites so that they do can enjoy the HD signals.
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