DVB would like to welcome HEVC Advance LLC to its membership.

HEVC Advance LLC is an independent licensing administrator formed to support the rapid and widespread adoption of the new HEVC/H.265 video compression standard by enabling companies using HEVC/H.265 to quickly and efficiently obtain licenses to a large portfolio of crucial patents essential to implementing the HEVC/H.265 standard.

www.hevcadvance.com

The DVB consortium consists of some of the world's most distinguished broadcasters, manufacturers, network operators, software developers, regulatory bodies and others from over 35 countries that are committed to designing open and interoperable standards for the global delivery of digital media and broadcast services.

For further information on how to become a DVB Member contact Eva Markvoort in the DVB Project Office - [email protected].

The German network operator, Media Broadcast, is to launch an HbbTV service named Freenet TV Connect, in conjunction with its DVB-T2/HEVC-based DTT platform on 29 March. The service offers easy and free access to around 20 additional TV channels as well as various radio stations, apps, media centers and on-demand offers. Viewers will need an internet connection with at least 3 Mbit per second, along with a Freenet TV Connect capable receiver, which is recognizable by the logo of the same name. Freenet TV Connect works without login. Viewers only need to connect the receiver to the internet and start the channel search.

The company has also launched a USB 2.0-based dongle for receiving the platform's DVB-T2 TV channels, an electronic program guide, teletext and subtitles to the screen. The stick, which is available for PCs, laptops and Mac computers, retails for under 60 Euros. Later this year internet-based IP programs will also be accessible via the Freenet TV Connect Mobile.

Source:  Media Broadcast

The Deutsche TV-Plattform has announced that the consumer transition from DVB-T to DVB-T2 HD is gaining momentum. According to the international market research organization, GfK, around 165,000 set-top boxes capable of receiving DVB-T2 were installed in January 2017. This represents an increase of 109 percent compared to December 2016 (79,000). 81 percent (134,000) of the sales in January of set-top boxes have the Deutsche TV-Plattform green 'DVB-T2 HD' logo, which indicates that the box will receive free to air broadcasts as well as encrypted private TV stations. From the beginning of 2016 to the end of January 2017 there were a total of 503,000 DVB-T2 set-top boxes sold, of which 351,000 (70 percent) have the green 'DVB-T2 HD' logo.

The initiative by the Deutsche TV-Plattform awards its logo to manufacturers of DVB-T2 compliant television sets, set-top boxes and antennas. Since the beginning of March 2017, more than 1,400 models have been certified by over 30 manufacturers.

About 3.4 million German households were receiving DVB-T when the transition to DVB-T2 began. Germany began its transition to digital in 2003 before the second generation DVB-T2 was standardized in 2008. Many of Germany's conurbations switched off DVB-T on 29 March with the full conversion to DVB-T2 in 2019.

Source: Deutsche TV-Plattform

New device launches, an expanding array of content for both consumer and enterprise users, and lower price points will propel the worldwide augmented and virtual reality headset device market at a breakneck pace. According to data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Augmented and Virtual Reality Headset Tracker, total headset device shipments will reach 99.4 million units in 2021, up nearly 10-fold from the 10.1 million units shipped in 2016. This results in a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 58% across the five-year forecast period.

For enterprise users, AR and VR is expected to raise productivity, allowing workers to see and interact with data, like a building blueprint or the organs of a human being, instead of viewing a static image on a screen. Changes and procedures can be mapped out ahead of time before moving on to the actual work, saving companies two precious resources: time and cost. Vertical markets, such as manufacturing and design, health care, transportation, and retail stand to benefit the most.

Meanwhile, for consumers, AR and VR will provide immersive experiences to consume content. Already, content providers are developing solutions to bring "as-if-you-were-there" experiences, like attending a concert or sports event from the comfort of one's armchair. Additionally, gaming on AR and VR will transport players into outer space or the battlefield, several steps beyond what they currently experience on a PC or television screen. Layer on top of this the social element that users will have sharing experiences and it becomes clear how AR and VR will appeal to consumers.

Although AR remains as the minority portion of the market in terms of shipments, these headsets are expected to bring in significantly more revenue over the course of the forecast as the value of AR headsets grows from $209 million in 2016 to $48.7 billion in 2021. Meanwhile, VR headsets grow from $2.1 billion in 2016 to $18.6 billion in 2021.

Source: IDC

With the theme 'Digitize, Digitalize and Dominate', the 13th ABU Digital Broadcast Symposium (DBS), which took place earlier this month in Kuala Lumpur, attracted a wide audience. The conference provided the opportunity for renowned local and international speakers to present the latest trends and discuss relevant topics. The accompanying exhibition saw manufacturers and solution providers from all over the world showcase their products and services. In his opening speech, the Deputy Communications Minister for Malaysia, Jailani Johari, informed the delegates that the DTT analog switch-off in Malaysia is planned for summer 2018.

DVB was represented by its Executive Director, Dr Peter Siebert. A half day workshop on 'From Network Planning to the Living Room - How to Set Up a DTT Network' was organized by DVB together with Enensys, SYES, Rohde & Schwarz, Sony and LS Telcom. The objective of the workshop was to provide hands on information and to answer questions. The workshop, attended by around 100 people, demonstrated how to set up and operate a DTT network using real equipment.

In the conference session, Peter Siebert provided a presentation on 'UHD and HDR in DVB Broadcast', which provided details on the latest DVB specification containing UHD Phase 2 features  - High Dynamic Range (HDR), Higher Frame Rate (HFR) and Next Generation Audio (NGA). The presentation pointed out that UHD is a major milestone for the broadcast industry and  that further improvements for video display on flat panels cannot be expected any time soon as the Quality of Experience (QoE) is now close to the limit of the human visual capability. CE devices (displays) supporting these Phase 2 features are already available. However, it will take some time before the complete end-to-end chain will be available.

Considering the wide adoption of DVB specifications in the region, the ABU DBS is an important event for the DVB Project as it brings together the relevant stakeholders of the region.

This year it was the turn of the historic city of Vienna to host the annual DVB World Conference and Exhibition. Earlier this month over 160 participants took part in the three day event which drew on the unique talents of an illustrious line up of industry leaders and groundbreaking pioneers in the broadcast and visual media.

The three day conference began with a Pre-Conference Masterclass and Workshop on Virtual Reality presented by VR innovators Peter Kauff and Oliver Schreer of Fraunhoffer HHI.

The main program of the conference was opened by three prominent Keynote Speakers. First up was the illustrious André Kudelski, Chairman and CEO of the Kudelski Group, who told us that what Europe needs to do for a better tomorrow is to innovate and innovate fast. His advice for DVB is that it must reinvent itself and become the 'Innovation Friendly Ecosystem'.

Next up was Andreas Gall, CTO Red Bull Media House, who stressed that the challenge today is to combine the best things about linear and interactive to become a 'buddy network'.

The third Keynote Speaker was Albert Heuberger, Executive Director Fraunhofer IIS, who discussed the limit of Moore's Law and asked us to face up to its potential end, or at least slowdown, with the prospect of semiconductor circuits coming to the physical limits.

DVB's newly elected Chairman, Peter MacAvock, gave an overview of the Project's recent work and outlined its ongoing priorities. Emphasizing that DVB needs to continue to innovate to address the demands of a changing industry by reaching out to its stakeholders in a set of 'industry workshops', he promised that up front, DVB will identify and produce aids to interoperability, in addition to its core technical specifications. Modern broadcast media solutions include technologies from numerous different sources and so DVB are reaching out to its colleagues in 3GPP, HbbTV and elsewhere.

In a packed program, over the three days, the delegates heard from Alexander Wrabetz  Director General, Austrian Broadcasting Corporation, ORF and Dr. Alfred Grinschgl,  Managing Director, Media Department Austrian Regulatory Authority for Broadcasting and  Telecommunications, who brought delegates up to date on the Austrian Media Market landscape.

Other topics addressed included: the challenges of Mastering Video on Demand at Scale; WiB - A New Wideband System Concept for DTT; eMBMS as Television;  DVB & IP Satellite Services: End-to-End Native IP Consumer Services; The DVB UHD Specification - UHD, HDR, HFR Features & Tests - UHD with HDR in Practice.

Other highlights were: The New HbbTV 2.0 Market in Italy; The State of the Ad Insertion Art; OTT Technology in 2017; UHD: Live Unicast & Scaling IP over Multicast and an update on The DVB 'Beyond The Transport Stream' Study Mission.

The third and final day looked into the future in a session titled 'Just Around the Corner'. After hearing reports on 5G Wireless Standards in 3GPP and the Next Generation Video Compression, it was time to move on to The DVB Virtual Reality Study Mission Report. This led us on to presentations on the Challenges of Encoding 360° video, AR and VR Content; the questions of Can Sensory Sickness be Mastered? and, Is VR, A Threat to Broadcast or A Passing Fad? The session concluded with a panel discussion of experts debating on Will VR Succeed? VR or AR?, and What Role for DVB?

However it wasn't all conference and presentations, there was plenty of opportunity to socialize and network during the many coffee breaks and lunches. A sightseeing tour of Vienna gave everyone the opportunity to take in the beautiful architecture as well as learn all about the city's famous Strauss family and the other music luminaries that made the city their home.

No visit to Vienna would be complete without a ride on the city's famous giant Ferris wheel, the Riesenrad, which is one of the oldest operating Ferris wheels in the world. After drinks at the bar at the foot of the wheel, delegates rode on the 213-feet high wheel, made famous in the movie adaption of Graham Greene's novel 'The Third Man', to enjoy the exceptional views over the entire city of Vienna. This was followed by a traditional Viennese dinner at a nearby restaurant. The evening was courtesy of Newtec who sponsored the event.

The DVB wishes to thank all the speakers, sponsors, media partners, and exhibitors for their great support in making DVB World 2017 another memorable occasion for all the delegates.

DVB World 2018 will take place in Warsaw, 12 - 14 March. Be sure to save the date.