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IFA 2005: High definition television - Breakthrough to the second phase (26/7/2005)

Visitors to the Internationale Funkausstellung first made the acquaintance of HDTV twenty years ago during the fair's Technical and Scientific Programme. High definition television is the ultimate technical method of achieving better picture quality. This subject is again on the agenda, having undergone many refinements in the intervening period. Around the world analogue receiving, studio and transmitting equipment has been replaced by digital technology.

Wide and varied range of HDTV displays

At the present time it is the displays in particular which are available in an unprecedented range. Many of them already bear the logo "HD Ready". Put simply, HDTV is only really available if the equipment bears a label stating "HD ready". They mainly take the form of plasma and LC displays, as well as DLP front or back projection units. Sets using HDTV picture tubes, LcoS or OLED technology are either already available or have at least been announced. Powerful computers can also be provided with HDTV satellite receiving cards and the relevant software.

"HD ready" is obligatory

However, displays are really only HD ready if they have a physical resolution of at least 720 lines. The widescreen format, i.e. 16:9, is an additional specification. In addition to inputs for analogue components, HD displays must also be provided with DVI (Digital Visual Interfaces) or HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interfaces) and the corresponding anti-copying protection. The HD formats of 1280 x 720p and 1920 x 1080i are supported, with 50 and 60 pictures per second respectively. These parameters have been laid down by the EICTA (European Information & Communications Technology Industry Association).

New DVD formats, HD-DVD and Blu-ray, will also be on show at the IFA 2005. Their large memory capacity makes them particularly suitable for high definition television.

HDTV from a number of sources

HDTV is distributed above all via the ASTRA satellite system. The operators of cable networks are also keen to feed HDTV programmes into their systems. For the more ambitious video filmmaker there are now HDV camcorders with a stunning picture quality, ideal for the new displays. HDTV also enables digital photos to be shown to best advantage.

Sharper, clearer images

Among the main features of High-Definition Television are its amazing sharpness, greater detail, the 16:9 format and Surround Sound. Now you can enjoy cinema quality TV, and you do not have to be a technical enthusiast either. Anyone can see the difference between a standard picture and HDTV straightaway, provided that the right images are being transmitted, and a number of programme-makers and DVD producers are already actively engaged in achieving this.

For example, since1 January 2004 Euro1080 has been broadcasting its HD1 programme via satellite from Belgium. The price of the smart cards required for decoding is now quite reasonable. It is being followed this summer by two further programmes, HD2 and HD5, the one broadcasting information about business and consumer issues, while the other will focus on sporting and cultural events.

Moreover the satellite operator SES ASTRA has been broadcasting uncoded HDTV pictures of various genres via its own HDTV promotional channel since 1 September 2004, which are intended in particular to whet consumers' appetites for improved pictures.

And starting on 1 November 2005 the pay-TV provider Premiere will be launching three HDTV channels, for films, documentaries and sport. Various other broadcasters are keen to get involved as soon as they can, in order to secure a foothold at the earliest possible opportunity. With the various HDTV films and documentaries that they have already broadcast ProSieben and Sat.1 in particular have shown that this new television technology is now reality.

A new transmission technology

As a means of making better use of available transmission capacities a brand new compression system is now available which only requires six to twelve megabits per second instead of 18 to 20 for an HDTV programme. The technology that makes this possible has the somewhat complicate designation MPEG-4 H.264/AVC, the last three letters referring to Advanced Video Coding.

The manufacturers of receiving equipment are dedicated to producing the corresponding HDTV set top boxes. So potential buyers are advised: when considering the purchase of an HDTV set top box, make sure that it has MPEG-4 capability.

Large screen images with a high resolution are no longer a dream but are available right now. And a visit to the IFA in Berlin from 2 to 7 September 2005 is the ideal place to start the search.

www.ifa-berlin.de