How DVB technology is bringing the Olympics to millions of French homes in ultra-high definition
Paris Games showcase France TV’s new DTT multiplex, which utilises standards-based technology that members of Sisvel patent pools have helped to pioneer
By Patrizia La Rosa
More than 25 million viewers across France tuned in to watch the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games last week. Many of them saw the spectacle in 4K ultra-high definition (UHD) on national broadcaster France 2. This was made possible thanks to recent upgrades in the country’s digital terrestrial television (DTT) services.
A closer look at these technology deployments provides a case study in how DVB standards – particularly DVB-SIS and DVB-T2 – are bringing crystal clear live footage into viewers’ homes while significantly boosting efficiency for broadcasters.
France TV rolls out UHD broadcast powered by DVB-T2
Earlier this year, France TV launched UHD services for its flagship France 2 channel over the country’s DTT network. During the Olympics and Paralympics, France 3 is also broadcasting in UHD. By the start of the games, UHD coverage had reached an estimated 70% of the population.
These services operate on a DTT network, which means anyone can access them with a simple antenna. In France, the DVB-T2 standard has played a key role in upgrading this network. The second-generation ETSI standard for DTT broadcasting offers a substantial increase in transmission capacity over its predecessor.
TDF S.A.S., a French radio and television transmission company – and a patent owner in Sisvel’s DVB-T2 and DVB-SIS patent pools – initiated UHD broadcast on 23rd January from 22 sites, including the Eiffel Tower. In a recent article, TDF’s Gaëlle Kaminsky explained the efficiency gains made possible in part by DVB-T2. “Thanks to the combination of DVB-T2 and HEVC,” she wrote, “we can achieve a spectrum efficiency boost of up to around 2.7 times compared to the existing DVB-T/MPEG-4 configuration.”
DVB-SIS technology boosts operating efficiency
DVB-SIS technology is another key part of the equation that has helped millions of French households enjoy the Olympics in UHD on free-to-air TV.
ENENSYS Technologies S.A., a patent owner in Sisvel’s DVB-SIS patent pool, recently announced that its OneBeam DVB-SIS solution is being deployed by French broadcaster towerCast in support of the France TV UHD upgrade project.
DVB-SIS, another ETSI standard, allows for terrestrial re-transmission of signals addressing direct-to-home (DTH) satellite receivers. As ENENSYS explains, this means satellite capacity can be shared between DTH and DVB-T2 distribution. This cuts operating costs in half, providing a much more efficient DTT system overall.
The upgrades to DTT made possible by these DVB standards are great for the French public, which gets get free and reliable access to crystal-clear live footage of the games. But they also have an important environmental benefit: according to ENENSYS, DTT broadcasting uses 10 to 14 times less energy than internet-based alternatives.
France is just one of the markets in which DVB standards have brought significant efficiency and quality improvements to terrestrial TV transmission. Through Sisvel’s patent pools for DVB-T2, DVB-SIS and other DVB technologies, we continue to power innovation in the sector by providing compensation to standards contributors including TDF and ENENSYS.
So, wherever you may be watching the Paris Games, let’s remember the innovations and investments that have delivered a steady increase in broadcast quality over time.
Patrizia La Rosa manages Sisvel’s DVB licensing programmes, including the DVB-T2 and DVB-SIS patent pools
