Content Distribution 3D
BSkyB is currently undertaking some
advanced trials for the transmission of
3D programming. The results
achieved so far have been nothing
short of miraculous. Chris Forrester
reports.
BSkyB: vision in 3D
B
SkyB is in the middle of with our own content, transmit it and we have to see if we can figure out a
some advanced capture it to the screen with the way of handling 30-36 Mb/s to handle
experimentation for 3D minimum impact on the complete 3D, and achieve a balance. The method
transmissions. Its work runs chain. For us the biggest worry was the we are looking at today is not that
in parallel with similar 3D
3D needs a
transmission infrastructure and our expensive, but it isn’t glasses-free
transmission experiments
different set
huge number of legacy set-top boxes.” although we are keen to see what we
carried out at CES in Las Vegas in Lenz explained that replacing either of can do in that area. The risk for going
January by News Corp-owned Fox
of rules. You
these elements might have placed any glasses-free is that the set then is for
Sports. At CES Fox Sports demonstrated don’t want to plans for 3D well into the long grass. specialist viewing only because all
live as well as pre-recorded 3D
be cutting
“Customers can understand the need other transmissions (viewed on the
transmissions. Sky’s impressive efforts
away from an
to replace their TV sets, especially if the set) are degraded to a certain extent.
focused on a Ricky Hatton vs Juan
image all the
added value is compelling enough.” Our current tests also replicate exactly
Lazcano boxing bout held last year, as
time. The eye
Lenz admits that 3D set prices have to what Hollywood is doing, with
well as soccer and rugby games and fall to affordable levels, but is confident inexpensive glasses.”
Sky1’s flagship ‘Gladiators’ show. More
needs to be
that - as with HDTV sets - this will What Sky has done is to experiment
experimental transmissions are being
allowed to
happen. “We are concentrating on within its existing production schedule.
planned.
linger. There
consumer-ready TVs and using a The Ricky Hatton boxing bout was
Sky has achieved a near-miracle in
is no point in
standard HD transmission channel, the captured in May 2008 - and works
transmitting end-to-end 3D using its
having all this
sort we would use for high-end sport, wonderfully well especially when the
existing Sky+ HDTV set-top boxes, the and fitting two images into that captured image has one of the ring’s
standard EPG and middleware and a
depth and
channel. The Hyundai set has the corners in the foreground. Its soccer
very acceptable total 18 Mb/s of information intelligence to put the images into a 3D (Liverpool vs Marseilles UEFA
satellite capacity (9Mb/s per image)
available if
mode. The polarising glasses do the Champions League) and rugby
into an ‘off-the-shelf’ 3D receiver
you can’t take
rest!” coverage (England vs New Zealand test
(Hyundai’s Xpol, a 46” stereoscopic
it all in.”
One of the problems being faced by match from Twickenham) were
1920 x 1080p unit that uses polarising the industry is rival 3D/Stereoscopic captured with 3 stereoscopic camera
filter technology) and which delivers
Brian Lenz, BSkyB.
standards. Standards body SMPTE pairs. “For the soccer and rugby we
1920 x 540 pixels per eye when in 3D (Society of Motion Picture & Television used fixed camera rigs without
mode. It currently retails in the UK at Engineers) only started its formal synchronised/motorised zoom and
around £7000, but prices are falling as definition work in August 2008, focus. For the boxing we were able to
production ramps up. establishing what it described as a ‘task zoom, and we were keen to test the
Brian Lenz, BSkyB’s head of product force’ to define the parameters of quality differences at the end of the
design & innovation, explained how: stereoscopic TV. day. When using fixed rigs you have to
“We wanted to see what we could do Sky is participating in the SMPTE hope and pray that the on-field action
discussions, although Lenz stresses that takes place close to the cameras. When
Sky is not pushing or ‘standardising’ on we get to shooting a 3D soccer match I
any of the competing methodologies. suspect we’ll need 10-12 cameras, half
“We have created this for pennies, of which will be motorised and the
relatively speaking. But we are not others fixed. Currently we tend to use
going to get an industry to move 20 or more cameras for a major soccer
unless you take into account the sums game in HD,” said Lenz.
that have already been invested. We Lenz explained that finding extra
will have to see if we can achieve the camera positions for 3D at the major
Left: Steroscopic TV
same results on an ‘active glasses’ TV. grounds is a real problem. “The
in its raw form.
What Dolby is doing is interesting. But environment is already crowded. One
8 l ibe l January/February 2009 l www.ibeweb.com
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40