HD in Europe
Dave Brewis from Ten80, supplier of HD Production Services based in Paris and London, discusses the roll out of HD in Europe.
Without doubt the speed at which broadcasters and production companies have rolled out HD in the US is impressive, and is testimony to the optimism and enthusiasm within the industry.
It's over two years ago that Ten80 started supplying US based companies with HD production services on their visits to France and the UK, but it's only recently that we've started to do the same for clients on our own doorstep.
I've spent time recently between Paris and London talking to broadcasters and production companies, and I can report that HD enthusiasm is taking hold on this side of the Atlantic, with the imminent launch of a plethora of European HD channels.
While it's clear to the casual observer that Europe as a whole is behind the US and Japan in terms of the roll out of HD, some European broadcasters have been working furiously behind the scenes, installing infrastructure and facilities, and planning how they will package and sell HD content to unsuspecting audiences.
Like the majority of televisions being sold now in the main commercial centres across Europe, the consumer is very much "HD Ready". Advertisers are making grand, yet warranted, claims regarding the immersiveness of the HD experience, and the tremendous detail and clarity contained within the picture, echoing the kind of sales message I witnessed in the US over two years ago.
So what's the state of play in Europe today, and how far has HD got to go before it takes a foothold?
The first channel to broadcast HD in Europe was HD1 (formerly know as Euro1080). Belgium based Euro1080 started broadcasting on 1st January 2004 via satellite throughout Europe, and the channel is also now carried by selected cable operators. The company launched a second channel in summer 2005, HD2, and has just opened a new state of the art studio and production complex to feed the new service.
UK
Leading the growing revolution in the UK is BSkyB. From early 2006, the Sky HD service will include a Sky Sports channel, Artsworld, a Sky Box Office channel and two Sky Movies Screens.
Apparently, the Sky Sports Channel will offer live and exclusive coverage of the Barclays Premiership football in HD and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. This is hugely exciting for the average football fan like me (Newcastle United if you’re wondering). It will be interesting to see if the surround sound replicates the experience of being in a stadium, and whether or not I can isolate and eradicate the sound of the opposition's supporters during the game!
In terms of format, the Sky platform (which carries channels from other broadcasters) will support both 720p and 1080i. In terms of preference, Sky maintain that it will be up to the programme maker or broadcaster to determine which will give the best viewing experience. Sky believes the progressively scanned picture format is better suited for the delivery and viewing of HD content on large flat-panel LCD or plasma displays, but accepts that for some particular types of programming the higher screen resolution offered by the 1080i format is preferable. Any consideration regarding 1080p broadcasts is for the future.
The BBC's attitude towards HD is enthusiastic, but the corporation has a less aggressive roll out strategy, perhaps due to how the BBC is funded, and its obligation to provide services for everyone, not just the few.
The corporation already produces some programmes in high definition for sale to the overseas market. Big budget natural history series, including the forthcoming Planet Earth and some sporting events, will also be filmed in the format and the BBC has pledged to move all its production to HD by the end of the decade.
Sticking with the UK, the merger between the two cable operators NTL and Telewest has provided impetus in the cable and DSL HD market. Both companies have an established user base, and the combined entity will have the flexibility to broadcast over cable or IP with ADSL2+. Their combined offering will initially be an on-demand service and not broadcast.
France
In France things have already kicked off. The launch of digital terrestrial television (TNT) occurred in March 2005 in MPEG2 format, among much debate as to whether this should have been delayed to take advantage of the more efficient MPEG4 Part 10 codec.
However, as TNT was to be launched carrying sixteen free-to-air channels, the regulatory body the CSA (Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel) demanded that digital terrestrial broadcasts should be in MPEG2 for reasons of compatibility and maximum uptake. In October 2005 50% of France was capable of receiving digital terrestrial broadcasts, although TNT will ultimately have to move to MPEG4 transmission in order to support planned HD pay-per-view channels.
Regarding French Satellite broadcasting, there are two main operators, TPS "Television par satellite" and Canal Plus Satellite.
In terms of broadcasting HD then, the Canal Plus group are amongst the leaders. A bouquet of 5 HD channels is scheduled for the first half of 2006 including cinema, nature and of course sport, including at least one D1 football game per week from late 2005.
TF1 also have ambitious plans, and as they own 66% of TPS, they have the weight to carry them through.
TPS HD anticipates a good takeup during the 2006 football world cup which will be broadcast in HD on TF1 (the HD version will exclusively be viewable on TPS HD).
With M6 too making the foray into HD broadcasting, France can claim significant progress.
Germany/Austria
In Germany, Munich based pay-TV operator Premiere is to start broadcasting three high-definition TV (HDTV) channels from November 1 2005, in a move that is expected to kick-start HDTV in Germany and Austria.
The three channels will show sport, film and documentaries and be broadcast via the ASTRA satellite system. Premiere also later intends to introduce its HDTV package on cable networks.
Premiere's Chief Executive Officer, Georg Kofler, believes that, "The launch of HDTV on Premiere will give considerable impetus to the digital TV market in Germany”, with the marketing of HDTV receivers suitable for Premiere scheduled to begin during the run-up to the Christmas season 2005.
In fact, it's looking like a High Definition Christmas throughout Europe, especially for the electronics retailers, and, longer term, analysts within the electronics industry have forecast sales of over 15 million HDTV compatible television sets in Western Europe by 2008.
Ultimately though, the successful roll out of HDTV in Europe will be based on the building of attractive pay-TV offers. It is interesting that all the leading European pay-TV platforms, BSkyB, Premiere, CanalSat, Sky Italia and TPS, are pointing to the Football World Cup scheduled for June 2006 in Germany, in their communications on the subject of HD.
As soccer tournaments go, it's likely to be the biggest ever, and personally I'm delighted that the US team have once again qualified for the finals! 2006 will certainly be the year that Europe adopts HD: I wonder if it will also be the year that the US adopts football, err I mean soccer!
Ten80 supply HD services in Europe. If you're planning an HD shoot here in 2006, please drop us a line, we'd be delighted to help.
Tel : +33 6 76 71 94 81