Advanced HDR by Technicolor Enables 2024 UEFA Championship's French Broadcast in High Dynamic Range
Washingtoner/10281273

SILVER SPRING, Md. - Washingtoner -- The 2024 UEFA European Soccer Championship provided the stage for a groundbreaking implementation of Advanced HDR by Technicolor, marking a major milestone in modern sports broadcasting. French broadcaster M6, in collaboration with key technology partners, demonstrated the potential of Advanced HDR technology to transform visual quality while addressing the operational and economic challenges of delivering HDR content at scale. In a vidcast interview for journalists conducted by BizTechReports, experts directly involved in the implementation of the HDR UEFA event broadcast gathered to provide their insights into the lessons learned.

"This was a significant step forward for us," said Mathias Bejanin, Director of Technologies at M6. "We've explored Ultra HD in the past, but Advanced HDR by Technicolor allowed us to broadcast in HDR effectively for the first time, providing a much more immersive experience for our viewers. It's a game-changer in delivering high-quality content."

Overcoming Roadblocks

Historically, HDR adoption in France faced technical and regulatory roadblocks, including limited compatibility with Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) and set-top boxes. Two recent developments set the stage for this trial: UEFA's production of the tournament in 1080p HDR and the launch of a new DTT multiplex optimized for high-quality HDR broadcasts.

More on Washingtoner

• VIV Welcomes Residents to St. Petersburg's EDGE District
• Evocative Joins the Independent Data Centre Network (IDCN) as Primary USA Operator
• Medical Experts Highlight the Importance of Second Opinions in Death Investigations
• Joseph Nybyk aka Neibich of Gilbert, Arizona
• Omnitronics Unveils 100% Software omniGateDMR and omniGateP25 RoIP Gateways

"HDR provides what we call 'better pixels' by enhancing contrast, brightness, and color fidelity without the need for higher resolution like UHD," explained Bejanin. "This approach offered us a cost-effective solution while maintaining exceptional quality."

Implementing HDR at scale requires seamless integration of multiple technologies, which was made possible by Advanced HDR by Technicolor. The system's automation capabilities played a key role in overcoming the operational complexities of handling mixed signal formats and varying production conditions.

"From a production perspective, Cobalt Digital tools integrate Advanced HDR by Technicolor processes, enabling seamless transitions between SDR and HDR content," said Ryan Wallenberg, VP of Engineering at Cobalt Digital. "This automation allows us to dynamically adjust signals while maintaining high-quality output, making it easier to deliver consistent experiences across different platforms."

Wallenberg highlighted the importance of dynamic conversion: "Live sports like soccer involve constant changes in lighting and movement. Advanced HDR by Technicolor's Intelligent Tone Management (ITM) ensures smooth transitions and minimizes manual intervention during production."

More on Washingtoner

• KRE PRIME Launches Adaptive Convertible Jumpsuit
• USA Med Bed Helping Home Care Patients with Refurbished Hill Rom Hospital Beds
• Sobreseimiento de Nicolás dos Santos y Jorge Méndez expone demandas millonarias a Paraguay y boicot a la Hidrovía
• CAPHRA warns Southeast Asia not to repeat Australia's nicotine policy failure
• Milo3D.ai Launches Free AI 3D Model Generator That Turns Text and Images Into Game-Ready 3D Assets in Seconds

Automation Drives Efficiency

Frederic Plissonneau, HDR System Architect at InterDigital, emphasized the role of machine learning and automation in enabling Advanced HDR by Technicolor.

"This technology mimics what a skilled human operator would do to optimize SDR to HDR conversion," he said. "By analyzing vast datasets and applying dynamic expansion curves, Advanced HDR by Technicolor automates the process while still allowing for customization when needed. This balance of automation and control is critical for live broadcasts."

Plissonneau also noted that the system's temporal smoothing capabilities are essential for managing changes in lighting conditions. "Whether it's a shadow moving across the field or a sudden change in brightness, Advanced HDR by Technicolor ensures that transitions are smooth and free of visual artifacts," he said.

###

EDITORIAL NOTE: Click here to read the full analysis and access the vidcast interview.