Recently, the national broadcasting, television, and online audiovisual industry standard, "Video Shallow Compression Coding Part 1: Ultra-HD Video Layered Coding" (hereinafter referred to as the industry standard), was officially issued by the State Administration of Radio and Television. This standard was developed and compiled under the guidance of the Science and Technology Department of the State Administration of Radio and Television, with collaboration from the Academy of Broadcasting Science, the Planning Institute, and the Design Institute, and with core participation from Sobey.
Challenges and Breakthroughs: The Road to Ultra-HD Construction in China
Video encoding and decoding technology is a crucial foundation for the development of the Ultra-HD video industry. Shallow compression coding is applied in professional production and broadcasting. On the one hand, China lacks international influence in this field of technical standards; on the other hand, various regions face challenges of high costs and technological transitions in the construction and upgrading of Ultra-HD production and broadcasting systems. China will likely face a long-term coexistence of high-definition and Ultra-HD technologies, hindering the further development and upgrading of China's audiovisual industry in the Ultra-HD field.Based on this, the industry urgently needs independently controllable, high-quality Ultra-HD encoding and decoding technologies, and the formulation and promulgation of corresponding standards. This approach not only promotes the steady application of Ultra-HD technology from a top-level design and overall industry chain perspective, but also standardizes and regulates collaboration among all parties in the industry, pooling resources to advance the development of China's Ultra-HD industry.
A Pragmatic Choice of High Quality, Compatibility, and Economy
The release of this industry standard marks a significant milestone in the development of China's Ultra-HD industry. It will play a crucial role in the development of China's Ultra-HD industry and have a profound impact on the construction and long-term development of the large audiovisual industry chain ecosystem:
Meets dynamic needs and ensures picture quality
The The video shallow compression coding scheme defined by this standard has outstanding advantages in ensuring high video quality. The application of layered coding technology means that the source video is divided into multiple bitstreams of different quality, which can be read on demand by different applications and meet different sub-applications, such as compatibility with HD, HD HDR, 4K, etc. This enhancement mechanism is more flexible than the existing mainstream video coding technology and outperforms the mainstream coding technology in several key technical indicators, providing more delicate image details in terms of picture quality.
High compatibility, reducing upgrade costs and maintenance requirements
The standard fully considers the current state of industry development and provides a pragmatic standardized technical solution. At the data transmission level, it realizes the simultaneous transmission of HD and 4K signals on the existing SDI transmission technology, and is compatible with existing high-definition equipment, supports the parallel broadcast of high-definition and Ultra-HD programs, and reduces the difficulty of technology updates. This not only reduces the core costs of equipment updates and personnel training, as well as the time costs required for upgrades, but also allows for rapid deployment and upgrade to Ultra-HD without the need for a complete equipment update or retraining of technical personnel.
Sobey is Committed to Writing a New Future for Ultra-HD
The implementation of industry standards will demonstrate their compatibility, universality, and practical application potential. It is worth mentioning that the open implementation of SUVC, a shallow compression layered coding technology for broadcast grade Ultra-HD video production and broadcasting, which is in line with the industry's standards, has also received attention from the industry due to its three core initiatives.
SUVC layered encoding and decoding technology not only supports HD, 4K, 8K and even larger formats, but also covers the entire production process of the signal domain and file domain. It can achieve a smooth upgrade to Ultra-HD on the basis of compatibility with high definition formats, and supports simultaneous production and broadcast of Ultra-HD and high definition programs.
Firstly, SUVC adopts a strategy of technological openness. Not only does it exempt patent licensing fees, but it also provides sample code and complete technical implementation logic, greatly reducing application barriers and development risks. Compared with similar international charging technology solutions, it has a high cost-effectiveness.
Secondly, the development of SUVC technology received full support from teams including the State Administration of Radio and Television, the Academy of Broadcasting Science, the Planning Institute, the Design Institute, and the National Ultra-HD Video Innovation Center. Institutional experts collaborated closely with Sobey, making significant contributions to the technical implementation of SUVC based on this industry standard in terms of quality, efficiency, and standardization.
Finally, in order to help cultivate and build an industrial ecosystem, Sobey actively invited numerous industry partners to join the ranks of technology validation and product development, including well-known enterprises and institutions such as Tektronix, Lida, Convolut, ROSS, DJI, Gefei, and Dongfang Fengsheng; At the same time, television stations from Beijing, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Shaanxi, Jilin, Shenzhen, Qingdao and other places also participated, laying a solid foundation for building an industry ecosystem based on industry standards.
In the future, Sobey will steadfastly deepen technological innovation, implement video shallow compression coding standards and the application and promotion of SUVC technology, in order to accelerate the construction and expansion of a collaborative industrial ecosystem. As a pioneer in the industry, Sobey is well aware of its mission and will continue to lead the development of the industry, fully promote industrial upgrading, and contribute Chinese strength to the progress of the global Ultra-HD industry.
