The Streaming Video Technology Alliance says it has been approached by the Ultra High Def Forum (UHDF) with a view to a merger.
“Although the UHDF historically has been more “broadcast focused”, we know that the two worlds of broadcast and streaming are really one world of content distribution,” said Jason Thibeault, CEO at SVTA in a blog post.
An agreement is yet to be finalised, but the two parties were confident enough to announce the move during a private breakfast held during IBC2025. “Despite the rumblings of “us” (broadcasters) versus “them” (streamers), there is a natural synergy that has been forming between the two groups for years, simmering under the surface and quietly reshaping how our collective industry, video content, has been evolving. Of course, there will always be bumps in the road and obstacles to overcome, but, in the end, there is only content distribution regardless of how that content gets to the viewer.”
Thibeault says he anticipates that the UHDF will evolve into a top level working group labelled Content Quality and Production, under which the UHDF, and perhaps other existing SVTA Working Groups would sit. “The transaction isn’t done but our two boards have agreed to do this and we already have a set of terms that are pretty much finalized. We expect things to move forward quickly but this will definitely happen by the end of the year,” he said.
Previously, DASH-IF was incorporated into the SVTA.
Earlier this year it was announced the UHD Alliance would merge into the Ultra HD Forum.
