ses_ses 25/03/2015 18:07 Page 1
Defining the
future of TV
Ultra HD is a revolution on a par with the introduction
of colour television, suggested veteran broadcaster
and journalist Andrew Neil, speaking at the recent
SES organised Ultra HD conference in London.
ndrew Neil said he believed
it was significant that most
people accept Ultra HD as a
major breakthrough that
would have huge consequences for the
marketplace, with Ultra HD
representing a step change in picture
quality. As a result, the market for
Ultra HD TV sets is taking off in
Europe and set to explode.
Neil (far right), as the launch chairman of
Sky, was one of the industry experts
examining Ultra High Definition TV from all
angles and aspects through a frank exchange
of views and debates on its current status
and development.
To coincide with the conference, SES's
A
8 EUROMEDIA UHD 2015
London office, ASTRA (GB), announced an
Ultra HD demonstration channel for the UK
and Ireland - a simulcast of the existing
demonstration channel being broadcast from
28.2ºEast.
According to Mike Chandler, managing
director of ASTRA (GB), the channel would
“enable retailers, installers and enthusiasts
to understand what Ultra HD technology is
making possible and what it would mean for
the viewing experience.” Content being
broadcast at 28.2ºEast includes urban
sports, exotic animals and nature clips along
with cityscapes - all are presented in crystal
clear colour and sharp detail.
The channel underscores SES's
commitment to the technology, declared
Thomas Wrede, SES vice president,
Reception Services, who addressed the
conference. He said that although SES was
aware that the pace of innovation in 4K was
challenging, through its live Ultra HD
broadcast trials in Germany - including a live
concert of Linkin Park from Berlin - the
operator had already successfully climbed a
very steep learning curve.
He also said Ultra HD broadcasts, while
very good quality, would require a “new
production grammar”, citing the experience
of filming live football. Some new camera
angles delivered a “fantastic immersive
experience” but others, he lamented, “did
not work at all.” He emphasised the need for
live encoders to further improve the delivery.
Wrede confirmed that as a satellite
operator, SES was more than ready for Ultra
HD. “It is a reality and here to stay. It will
further enhance consumer's television
experience.” Satellite would, he believed, be
the medium that will reliably deliver
increased data levels required by Ultra HD
content to the UK's homes whereas the
Internet may not be able to sustain the data
rates required for streaming.
Wrede nevertheless warned that the
launch of Ultra HD may need to be
decoupled from the introduction of High
Dynamic Range (HDR), which he said would
change TV forever as a result of the higher
contrast. He claimed that HDR was too large
a topic to be linked just to Ultra HD. By