In some markets 3DTV is making a very real impact. BSkyB is perfectly happy with its 3D results to date, for example, yet just across the channel Canal Plus has pulled its 3D channel citing lack of programming. In the USA sports giant ESPN is also supplying hundreds of hours of 3D content, as is 3net, although payTV operator
DirecTV dumped its stand- alone 3D service again citing lack of programming. Among free-to-air
broadcasters the BBC is probably leading the pack, thanks to a superb 3D summer and autumn helped by Wimbledon, the Olympics, a brilliant Planet Dinosaur documentary which was guaranteed to send younger viewer behind the sofa, and Last Night of the Proms. Further afield many eyes are looking to China and the
nation’s five-year plan to see 3D’s widespread deployment. CCTV launched its network back in January with 4.5 hours a day of material, and is promising a rapid increase of 3D material for TV. Japan’s public broadcaster NHK, as well as investing in Ultra- HDTV technology, is also putting cash into 3D although with some of its effort focused on overseas programming sales. Last year it produced a Simon Rattle/Berlin
StarHub choses 4Caster Envivio By Ian McMurray
Singapore’s leading pay TV operator StarHub, with over 544,000 households on its books, has deployed Envivio’s Envivio4Caster for HDTV, OTT and mobile TV services.
According to Envivio, its systems were selected by StarHub because of their excellent HDTV and multiscreen picture quality, low delay for broadcast services, good value and simple integration with the rest of the network infrastructure. Envivio Muse encoding
solutions – which are at the heart of Envivio4Caster - support HD and SD, MPEG- 4 AVC (H.264) and MPEG-2, as well as a variety of other formats and resolutions for delivery to any device, including traditional television, connected TVs, PCs and smartphones.
Philarmonic concert in Singapore in 3D. This year NHK is focusing on a documentary that looks at the aftermath of the earthquake and attempts to re- commence a famous historical – and colourful – cavalry festival near the Fukishima nuclear site. But what everyone is
agreed about is that 3DTV production costs must fall, and workflow processes speeded up. Today’s truly expert panel, gathered
together by journalist and session moderator George Jarrett, will deliver some impressive demonstrations as to how these aims can be realised and at the same time keeping the budget under control.
Spencer Stephens (EVP/CTO Sony Pictures Technologies) will showcase a couple of examples including work on a daily soap-opera and weekly comedy show. Vision-3 Stereographer Matthew Smith will also deliver some hard-won advice for producers, technicians and those controlling the all- important 3D budgets. 11:30-12:30, Auditorium
4Caster deployed for HDTV, OTT, mobile
“Envivio’s internally developed codecs are continuously enhanced to improve video quality and optimise bandwidth efficiency,” said Julien Signès, Envivio’s president
and CEO. “It is critical that we provide customers, such as StarHub, with solutions that enable them to better serve their end-user customers and provide a high quality viewing experience.” 1.D73