IP: inevitable, integral & invaluable
2015 saw the emergence
of hybrid broadcasting
BY DR AMAL PUNCHIHEWA
2
015 turned out to be a very crucial year
for broadcasters. The future of terrestrial
broadcasting is challenged by the spectrum
re-allocation plans yet to be decided
by the end of November at the World
Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-15).
Broadcasters have been discussing the
challenges that they have to face while
formulating future strategies for broadcasting
delivery. Given the claims of telecom
and mobile operators, broadcasters and
regulators have been questioned whether
spectrum (re)allocations are heading in
the right direction. While governments and
regulators acknowledged the importance
of terrestrial broadcasting as being unique
platforms for the delivery of free-to-air (FTA)
services with universal coverage, no clear
decision was evident before they headed to
the WRC-15 meetings in Geneva.
The key technological development in 2015
is related to the integration of broadcast and
broadband to complement content delivery.
Both hybridcast and HbbTV released the 2.0
version of their hybrid broadcast technologies,
which are supported by the ISDB and DVB
terrestrial broadcasting standards respectively.
North America is considering HbbTV
as a hybrid engine for ATSC 3.0, its next-
generation broadcasting technology.
In Japan, broadcasters are working on
expanding its hybridcast services to UHDTV-1
and UHDTV-2. In Australia and New Zealand,
FreeviewPlus services based on HbbTV have
been introduced; they enable seven days of
catch-up services and other VoD services.
These Integrated Broadcast-Broadband
(IBB) services are used to enhance audience
interaction and engagement, and to enhance
brand loyalty to broadcast channels. As an
integral part of IBB, OTT services that can
be offered using such hybrid broadcast
technologies are gaining a competitive edge
over newcomers to the broadcast industry.
While UHDTV-1 profile-1 services are being
trialled in South Korea, High Dynamic Range
(HDR), High Frame Rate (HFR) and Wide
Colour Gamut (WCG) services for UHDTV
have been discussed. Some proposals are
being considered for standardisation at the
International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Most broadcasters have agreed that just
more pixels is not enough; better pixels are
also needed to offer pictures with less motion
blur, wider intensity range and vivid colours.
Japan is working on UHDTV-2 with 8K
pixels incorporated with HDR, HFR and WCG.
It intends to start test transmissions by 2016
using satellite and regular services, and to
be ready for widespread transmission by the
2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Despite the attention on the future of
terrestrial broadcasting, most APAC countries
have yet to switch off analogue signals. A
September 2015 report by the UN broadband
commission reveals that 57% of the world
population has no access to any form of
broadband. The situation in the 48 UN-
designated Least Developed Countries (of
which 11 are from APAC) is particularly critical,
with over 90% of people without any kind
of Internet connectivity. Hence, broadband
would not be a replacement for delivery of
broadcast content over-the-air for the next
few decades, and there is no such time when
public Internet accessibility reaches over 95%
of the population in any given country.
Dr Amal Punchihewa is Director of
Technology at the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting
Union (ABU).
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