Name-brand tier-1 operators are
testing their architectures with our
Ultra HD demo channels, and
content producers and
programmers are fully engaged in
our platform,” Corda explains with
enthusiasm, listing some of SES’
most recent Ultra HD milestones.
There have been many postcard
moments along the way. One of the
most memorable for Corda was
how the new SES Ultra HD solution
impressed even the most jaded
engineers at the NAB and INTX
shows. “Ultra HD is incredibly life
like, with more pixels, better pixels
and faster pixels,” explains Corda.
“When we first turned up the live
system at NAB, people literally
stopped in their tracks. It was the
ultimate experience, the ultimate
return on all our hard work.”
SES delivered linear live Ultra
HD broadcasts to a cable system at
both conferences. “The 4K
resolution, the dynamic range, the
frame rate all came together for a
quality picture that had many
attendees telling us that the live
feed from outside the conference
floor to our Ultra HD flat screens
looked like a window to the street
outside,” says Corda. “We jumped
through a lot of hoops to make this
happen.” Admittedly there are
more hoops to come, as SES
continues to adjust and tweak its
Ultra HD platform in preparation
for home delivery.
POWERFUL PARTNERSHIPS
Creating a successful 4K Ultra HD
ecosystem requires investment and
innovation. SES has made big
investments of time and money in
the acceleration of linear live Ultra
HD. It’s taken a lot of collaboration
and mind share across SES and
across the Ultra HD value chain,
pulling on experience, thinking
outside of traditional digital TV
processes and leveraging IP,
according to Corda – “SES
pioneered the exploration of 3D,
and that knowledge and insight has
helped us crack the UHD code.”
The delivery of an end-to-end
Ultra HD solution also takes
partnerships that bring together the
best minds and companies capable
of turning a lofty vision into reality.
Corda and SES have built strong
ties with a number of leaders in the
industry during the development
and ongoing evolution of the Ultra
HD system.
For example, SES has worked
closely with Harmonic in the
development of the system and the
delivery of Ultra HD content
during the unveiling at NAB and
INTX and the Armstrong trials.
Content is encoded with
Harmonic’s Electra X3 encoder in
HEVC/H.265, a compression
scheme that is 50% more efficient
than MPEG-4/H.264. The SES demo
channel is transmitting native 4K
content at 10 bit color and 60
frames per second with a data rate
of 20-25 Mbps. Corda expects
encoded data rates to drop to
UHD does
not have
any of the
buffering
issues that
OTT has
through
network
congestion
“
”
TECHNoLoGY BUSINESS
|
THE CHANNEL
around 15 Mbps in the near future.
“It’s important to note that our
exclusive system is completely
managed end-to-end with dedicated
bandwidth on the satellite and
within the cable network. No one
else is doing this today,” Corda
explains. “The result is high-quality
encoded content delivered to the
TV in an extremely reliable method
that doesn’t have any of the
buffering issues that OTT has due
to network congestion. It is truly a
premium, cinema-quality service.”
ONTHEHORIZON
Cable operators and programmers
are evaluating their networks and
content on SES’ Ultra HD demo
channels, the Armstrong trial is
underway, other tests are in the
works, and Corda and the SES team
are readying for a busy 2016. SES is
planning to launch a number of
full-time linear Ultra HD channels
within its end-to-end North
American system later this year,
according to Corda, in preparation
for Ultra HD’s ramp up on the
horizon.
“This will serve as a springboard
into 2016, when we anticipate
traditional programmers will begin
launching their 4K channels. Then
we will see a bouquet of Ultra HD
channels, featuring very compelling
programming, offered in 2017,”
Corda projects. “The bottom line is
people want a better quality
viewing experience wherever they
are. They’re craving Ultra HD in
North America, Europe, and
emerging markets like Brazil, and
SES has the system to bring it
home.”
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