Intelsat tested 4K TV on Galaxy 13

[Martyn]

I got this from Intelsat today and thought some here might be interested ...


Intelsat and Ericsson Demonstrate True 4K, End-to-End Video Transmission Via Satellite

Luxembourg, 25 June 2013

Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I), the world's leading provider of satellite services,and Ericsson today announced the successful demonstration of a true 4K Ultra High Definition (UHD), end-to-end video transmission over satellite to Turner Broadcasting's facilities in Atlanta, Ga. This was the first transmission of a UHD signal over satellite in North America, and the demonstration proves that the satellite delivery chain can accommodate the next-generation signals as soon as broadcasters are ready to offer them.

During the demonstration, Intelsat's Galaxy 13 satellite delivered a 4:2:2 10-bit, 4K UHD signal at 60 frames per second, which resulted in an immersive viewing experience. The 100 Mbps video feed was encoded and decoded in real time by Ericsson, using its AVP 2000 contribution encoders and RX8200 receivers, capable of 4K UHD operations as well as HD and SD contribution at the highest quality. Newtec provided the modulation and demodulation hardware, featuring Clean Channel Technology®, and the satellite downlink antenna was provided by Turner Broadcasting.

An earlier test between Newtec and satellite transmission provider PSSI Global Services, which was conducted in preparation for the UHD demonstration, achieved 140 Mbps over a 36 MHz transponder on Galaxy 13 to a 4.6-meter antenna.

"4K UHD is the next evolutionary step for television broadcasting, and just as Intelsat supported the smooth transition from SD to HD, so too will we be ready to support the transition to full-time distribution in this new format," said Peter Ostapiuk, Intelsat's vice president of media product management.

"We are tremendously pleased with the outcome of today's demonstration," said Giles Wilson, head of TV compression business, Ericsson. "It shows what is feasible in terms of meeting consumer demand for the highest quality possible. Demonstrations such as this show operators that it is possible to start building the necessary ecosystem and a library of UHD TV content now as the industry readies itself for the roll-out of commercial services in the coming years. Ericsson has always been a pioneer of next-generation compression systems, and we are pleased to have worked with Intelsat to lead the way for UHD TV over satellite."

 

[Xizer]

What I want to know is why no one feels compelled to record this. We've known about it since June 8.

 

[Lak7]

What I want to know is why no one feels compelled to record this.

It's just a loop of promo footage - not worth recording for me, and no way to recombine the 4 channels into 1.

 

[pro96]

Waste with current stand alone FTA receivers. and pc cards can only read the data.

Posted Using The New SatelliteGuys Reader App!

 

[Xizer]

It's just a loop of promo footage - not worth recording for me, and no way to recombine the 4 channels into 1.

Incorrect. You can use Edius to position each of the four 4K streams into the correct quadrant of a project and export it to a new, single 2160p video file. Edius can export to uncompressed avi. You can then re-encode it to a smaller file using x264 if you'd like. If I had a copy of the footage I could create a 4K video from it.

Does anyone know what is this promo footage of and how long is the duration? 4:2:2 10-bit H.264 is exciting tech specs. I bet this is the highest quality footage ever uplinked to a North American satellite. I only have a limited amount of 4K videos; my gaming PC is always yearning for more 4K video to chomp through

 

[gpflepsen]

But, but, but... 4:2:2 is dead!

 

[SatelliteAV]

But, but, but... 4:2:2 is dead!

Did you read this? http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads...(spanish-feed)-AMC16-KU?p=3148066#post3148066

 

[Xizer]

Well, I love 4:2:2, so I do hope we see a resurgence with 4K.

The nice thing about this hobby, is because these feeds are intended to be used internally and not for the general public, things aren't watered down for the lowest common denominator, because the general public has peasant hardware that can only playback 4:2:0, MPEG-2, etc. Basically, old and weak stuff that doesn't require a lot of processing power. For those of us who are ahead of the curve and own powerful equipment it is sad when we have no material to playback on it because every broadcaster is busy ensuring that their material is toned down enough that it can playback on basic hardware.

It will be cool if 4:2:2 is introduced as the subsampling standard for 4K broadcasting as H.265 will require all-new equipment anyway...

 

[gpflepsen]

Did you read this? http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads...(spanish-feed)-AMC16-KU?p=3147954#post3147954

How's the new GeoSat receiver coming? Interested to give it a whirl!

 

[Tron]

Xizer, are you using an ATI/AMD 77xx series video card in your PC?

Many variations of these can do 4k DCI and sport DisplayPort interfaces.

 

[Lak7]

Incorrect. You can use Edius to position each of the four 4K streams into the correct quadrant of a project and export it to a new, single 2160p video file. Edius can export to uncompressed avi. You can then re-encode it to a smaller file using x264 if you'd like. If I had a copy of the footage I could create a 4K video from it

Can it do it on "live" broadcast?

 

[Xizer]

Of course not. I don't see why that is relevant.

 

[Lak7]

I don't see why that is relevant.

Probably just me.

 

[pwrsurge]

So if I understand correctly, for the test they had 4 separate 1K streams using 4.2.2? Can any of the 4 streams still be viewed in 1080 resolution if using 4.2.2 capable hardware such as the AzBox?

 

[Lak7]

Can any of the 4 streams still be viewed in 1080 resolution if using 4.2.2 capable hardware such as the AzBox?

If the AzBox can do h.264 4:2:2 and 16apsk, then yes.
To me, it's not a real test, it's just 4 video channels in a single MUX. I think the actual test is on the receiver's end - an IRD being able to sync those 4 channels into a single Picture.

 

[Xizer]

It's a test of one way of transmitting 4K video with current tech since 2160p H.265 encoders haven't been produced yet. This is just Intelsat playing around.

I think new encoders will be produced that encode the full 3840x2160 progressive image using H.265 before any kind of mass distribution is started. These 4x 1080p feeds that must be combined into a single video likely won't be any kind of finalized backhauls or fronthauls and will disappear when we start seeing a serious 4K push. There's really not even a need to use 16APSK even when the H.265 encoders get rolled out - DVB-S2 with a SR of 30000 and and FEC of 5/6 has plenty of bandwidth to deliver a high quality 2160p feed, and even that's probably overkill. Your plain 'ol DVB-S QPSK uplink with ~40 Mbps of bandwidth should be plenty. 4K H.265 @ 40 Mbps is the 4K equivalent of 1080p H.264 @ 20 Mbps.

 

[Tron]

If they can achieve a decent PQ using only 40 megabits, then 4k storage on Blu-Ray would be feasible.

If they bit starve the 4k too much, on the other hand, they'll lose any added detail that 4k would provide (see most pizza dish and digital cable HD channels).

 

[kodaz]

Thats it, now i gotta find a tv that can play 4 az boxes at once .

This thread is an interesting read.

it seems no grave can hold 4:2:2