We return to Amsterdam once more to show the world's broadcasters our innovations in Ultra High Definition HLG, streaming live TV at scale online, dynamically inserting IP material into broadcast content, as well as our research and thinking on object-based broadcasting, AI in production, video coding, 5G and personalisation.
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ R&D Stand | Partner Stands | Tech Papers | Talks & Presentations
On the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Research & Development Stand (Future Zone, Hall 8, F08):
UHD HLG over IP Multicast High Dynamic Range for Television
Although set-top boxes and television sets will likely remain primary targets for Internet-delivered television, the Web Platform is becoming an increasingly important media consumption environment too, especially for wireless devices. Receiving IP multicast streams is not possible in today's web browsers, but we have prototyped a proof of concept to demonstrate the principle.
Using advanced web browser features such as W3C Service Worker, we can intercept requests from an unmodified MPEG-DASH player (DASH.js) and substitute multicast-delivered media that would otherwise generate unicast requests on the network. To realise this proof of concept we have implemented an adaptor that receives IP multicast packets and tunnels them to the Service Worker over a WebSocket.
For efficiency, the packets are processed by the Service Worker using browser-neutral WebAssembly code. Ultimately, this packet processing should be subsumed into the browser core so that IP multicast can be consumed natively and securely.
Low Latency Live Streaming Internet-delivered TV using MPEG DASH
Targeted Advertising (TA) is a hot topic for the broadcast industry. The same content substitution technologies that enable TA can also enrich the viewer experience by blending traditional linear broadcast with personalised IP-delivered content. For example: trailers and programmes can be substituted with choices tailored to the viewerβs interest or local area.
We will be showing how devices supporting the HbbTV 2 standard will make this possible for horizontal markets and platforms, such as Freeview Play in the UK. The substitution content is delivered as adaptive bitrate DVB DASH streams. Our approach uses MPEG TEMI and the Media Synchronisation features of HbbTV 2 to coordinate the switch between broadcast and IP content. This combination is uniquely well-suited to enabling content substitution for everything from adverts or trailers to whole programmes as IP-delivered content can be joined mid-way through.
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ R&D Stand | Partner Stands | Tech Papers | Talks & Presentations
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Research & Development Contributions on Partner Stands:
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ R&D work is also represented with other exhibitors at IBC.
Download a guide to things we're doing on other, non-ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ stands at IBC 2018
EBU ADM Renderer (Stand 10.F20)
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ R&D staff and colleagues will be demonstrating the EBU ADM Renderer. This is a standardised system which interprets next generation audio metadata to improve interoperability between systems. The technology, developed by ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ R&D and partners won the EBU Tech & Innovation Award in June 2018.
2IMMERSE (Stand 8.F46) is a collaborative project demonstrating the benefits of object-based broadcasting. Object-based broadcasting allows TV experiences to be customised to suit the viewersβ contexts and preference and to display the experience across many screens. Partners in the project include , ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ, , , , and - an independent media producer. Together we are designing, building and testing prototype experiences involving live performance and sport. The projectβs ambition is to deliver technology enabling services βto immerseβ audiences in shared and personalised multiscreen experiences. 2-IMMERSE is a collaborative project co-funded by the .
HbbTV
is a collaborative global industry initiative. Its specifications for Connected TVs and set-top-boxes enable the delivery of rich interactive broadcast and connected experiences, such as the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's Connected Red Button and TV iPlayer services.
We have been deeply involved in the development of the HbbTV specification and testing activities since 2012, and have been a key player in enabling the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ and UK platforms, such as , to roll out HbbTV services to viewers in the UK. HbbTV will be present on the following stands:
COGNITUS (Stand 8.F14)Imagine a world where audiences become multimedia creators. Seeing your mobile video on the TV blown up to UHD and immersive sound. Tools for producers to seamlessly discover and integrate auto-quality checked and enhanced UGC in productions. COGNITUS is there to help.
COGNITUS is a collaborative project funded by the . COGNITUS offers next generation products enabling Broadcasters to incorporate User Generated Videos in the productions, maintaining high quality standards: HD to UHD enhancement; metadata enrichment; plot authoring; adaptive delivery; immersive sound reproduction; smart content correlation; mobile application; and reward scheme.
IP Showcase (Conference Room E106)
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ R&D's contribution to the industry's interoperability activity on the transition is once again represented at IBC.
The to provide demonstrations and presentations, case studies, and panel discussions from broadcasters, service providers, integrators, standards bodies and vendors. Up for discussion will be interoperability, the specifications and standards that will increasingly be used in new broadcast facilities - and ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ R&D's demonstrations and presentations are as follows:
- Monday 2pm: Peter Brightwell will cover the current state of NMOS specifications and implementations and give a summary of new work.
- Monday 2.30pm: Andrew Bonney will provide an introduction to what is happening on timing and identity for NMOS.
- Saturday 3.00pm: Simon Rankine will outline work happening in AMWA on securing the NMOS APIs.
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ R&D Stand | Partner Stands | Tech Papers | Talks & Presentations
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Research & Development Technical Papers and Presentations:
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ R&D Colleagues will be presenting technical papers based on their work all week at IBC. This is a great opportunity to get details on the work our teams do day to day - you can find all these sessions .
Personalising the public: Personalising linear radio at a public service broadcaster In the Paper Session:
βYou watched that, others then watched thisβ. True personalisation is the fine art of accurately packaging an increasingly diverse set of content types from an actionable expression of interest. In this Tech Talk, one broadcaster explains the complexity of the intelligent content tagging task under-pinning their personalisation system and the benefits they have seen, whilst another shares user feedback on a trial hybrid broadcast that pro-actively personalised their content streams. With Tim Cowlishaw, Saturday 15th September, 14:15-15:30
An overview of recent trends in video coding: the bitrate savings to be expected and at what cost In the Paper Session:
As we seek to deliver UHDTV and VR-360 video through the internet and other limited channels there is increasing pressure on the worldβs experts to find new tricks which will lead to lower transmission rates. However all these clever tricks are patented before they are incorporated in new standards and this is currently resulting in high licence fees for implementers. In this insightful panel session we shall hear brief presentations by world experts from differing sides of the fence.
These experts will then debate where the future of compression systems lies β and indeed, whether the present situation is symptomatic of weakening standards in other media technologies. With Andre Seixas Dias, Sunday 16th September, 09:15-10:45
AI in Production: Video analysis algorithms and machine learning for expanded live events coverage In the Paper Session:
AI is here to stay and in the area of production it is set to revolutionise working practice, by dispensing with many formulaic and repetitive tasks, and making more effective use of human creative skills. Nowhere is this more significant than in live broadcasting where the economic advantages of AI can allow the coverage of events which would not otherwise be cost-effective. In these Tech Talks three industry experts will describe and demonstrate the latest ideas and technologies in AI-assisted production. With Craig Wright, Sunday 16th September, 11:00 -12:15
*Winner Best IBC Paper 2018
Correct reproduction of Human Skin Tone in High Dynamic Range video In the Paper Session:
Today's imaging technology strives to produce a viewing experience which is, as far as possible, identical with that perceived by the human visual system. Strangely, one limiting factor in high dynamic range (HDR) design has been that existing measurements of the human vision have not been sufficiently accurate.
Another of these issues is skin tone: humans are particularly sensitive to skin colour - regarding it as an indicator of well-being. The accurate portrayal of this subtle parameter is therefore particularly important. In this Tech Talk we shall hear from researchers and vision scientists, how they are ensuring the precision of HDR and colour in image capture. With Simon Thompson, Monday 17th September, 13:30-14:45
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ R&D Stand | Partner Stands | Tech Papers | Talks & Presentations
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ R&D Presenting Elsewhere at IBC:
From Epic Poetry to AI: discovering viable algorithms for creating responsive media A Lounge Talk in the with , Thursday 13th September, 12:45-13:15
5G in Content Production On the EBU Stand with Ian Wagdin, Sunday 16th September, 11:00-12:00
Advances in Sport Production/Object Audio Capture for Sports Production
A sports technology fest not to be missed. The capture and production of sports content is undergoing a major revolution.
The trend is for low-latency capture of players and balls to sub-centimetre precision, so that: 3D game experiences can be generated (including photorealistic e-gaming), AI-based analysis can be undertaken, screen data can be overlain and commentary scripts can be generated automatically and in real-time - even biometric player data can be captured and analysed.
And we should not forget 3D audio, where beam-forming and array mics now allow on-pitch sounds to be separated from crowd noise. Finally, the latest trends also include major sport event production using IP and SMPTE 2110 standards. These Tech Talks, presented by three leading media researchers, will cover all these exciting developments.
A Tech Talk in the chaired by , Sunday 16th September, 16:45-18:00
Radioβs Digital Strategy
Radio is alive and continues to grow and innovate in the face of dynamic and ever-evolving challenges. It remains free and easily accessible across platforms, thanks to its high quality and relevant content, and its ability to embrace and adapt to change. In the new landscape that includes the likes of Google, Amazon, Sonos and Apple Music, how is broadcast radio delivering new content to the listener, and catering to what the listener wants? In the , chaired by Lindsay Cornell, Monday 17th September, 09:00-10:30
Public Service Media and the coming age of AI and cloud based workflows
The session will debate opportunities and challenges of using AI, ML and DL tools from the perspective of public service media. What potential efficiencies do public or private clouds offer with regards to workflows, scale and flexibility in media creation and distribution? What are the implications broadcasters and service providers need to anticipate with regards to the public service remit? In the with , Monday 17th September, 12:15-13:15