Russia is making good progress in the introduction of Ultra HD services.
Just a week before Christmas, the OTT video service Okko, formerly known as Play, announced the release of the Hollywood blockbuster The Expendables 3 in the original Ultra HD (4k) format.
This was significant on two levels, as besides being the first Ultra HD release of the newest Hollywood movie in Russia, it was also the global premiere of the movie in Ultra HD on smart TV.
Three months earlier, Okko had made its intention to become something of a pioneer in Russia clear by starting the first ever streaming of original Ultra HD content on smart TV, employing a technological solution developed jointly with LG Electronics.
However, other companies have also been busy. The year began with NTV-Plus, Russia’s longest established DTH platform, undertaking a live satellite Ultra HD broadcast of the Sochi Winter Olympics. This followed months of testing with its partners Broadcom and Elemental and was significant in being the world’s first 4k high-efficiency video coding (HEVC/H.265) satellite transmission.
Then in October, Tricolor TV, Russia’s leading DTH platform and pay-TV provider, began regular broadcasting of a pilot Ultra HD channel.
Produced in cooperation with Eutelsat Communications and distributed by Eutelsat 36A/Eutelsat 36B, it was the first such service of its kind in the country and was available free of charge to all Tricolor TV customers.
Tricolor TV has been a major driver in the take-up of HD services in Russia and is clearly determined to also play a key role in Ultra HD.
It made its intentions clear as far back as June 2013, when it undertook the first Ultra HD broadcasts in the country in partnership with several other companies including Eutelsat Communications, Ericsson, NPO SvyazProekt, Rohde & Schwarz, NPF Sfera-Video and LG Electronics.
Given its importance in the marketplace, it is likely to continue playing a leading role in Ultra HD this year and beyond. Indeed, it has plans to start regular broadcasts in the format this spring.
MTS, one of Russia’s top three mobile operators and a leading provider of pay-TV services, has also undertaken Ultra HD tests, as undoubtedly have other players.
All of which points to the possibility that Russia may make the jump from HD to Ultra HD in a much shorter time than many other markets, especially in the CEE region.
