UHD Spain, the association that promotes Ultra High Definition in Spain, has made a pioneering test on UHD-HDR broadcasting and next-generation audio (NGA), using 5G contributions, cloud mixing, multi-media broadcasting including 5G Broadcast, and the use of the public Internet network for signal transport.
The test took place on Thursday 19 October and featured a a live concert by the singer Israel Fernández, held at the Real Observatorio Astronómico de Madrid broadcast on RTVE Radio 3.
A UHD workflow was established with HDR-HLG from the camera to the user’s device, using 5G communications, edge and cloud processing, and all available broadcast media: DTT (DVB-T2), satellite (DVB-S2), Internet (OTT, HbbTV) and the new 5G Broadcast system, simultaneously. The concert could be viewed on TVs, PCs, tablets and mobile devices through the official UHD Spain website.
“This is one of the first cases of a multi-camera contribution of Ultra High Definition content over a 5G network,” says Cellnex’s Xavier Redón, vice president of UHD Spain. “Spain is a country where there is a very big UHD innovation and from Cellnex we are proud to operate the network through which RTVE will become the first broadcaster in the world to broadcast a regular UHD broadcast on DTT.”
The workflow included the proof of concept of remote production, by including mixing and production processing in the cloud and remote-controlled cameras (PTZ).
“This proof shows us one more way for live production,” explains Emili Planas, Grup Mediapro and member of the association’s board of directors. “In the not too distant future, the production model we have tested will become standard for covering live events at the highest UHD-HDR quality, using the facilities of 5G and delocalised operations through connected resources.”
The demonstration also included systems for monitoring and supervision of the transmitted signal in terms of radio frequency, protocols and video/audio quality.
