Dolby trials terrestrial broadcast of Dolby Vision and AC-4 with Spanish public broadcaster

Public broadcaster RTVE has become the first national channel in Spain to complete a live broadcast in Dolby AC-4 and Dolby Vision. The historic Solemn Changing of the Guard ceremony, was broadcast live on July 5 in Dolby Vision HDR technology and Dolby Audio, using the 4K DVB-T2 trial channel operated by RTVE and Cellnexx Telecom. This transmission was available on terrestrial channels in Madrid, Barcelona and Seville.

To deliver the transmission, two outside broadcast trucks were used; one for video and one for audio, as well as a location for video production, and all the necessary Dolby equipment to incorporate Dolby Vision and Dolby Audio technologies. A satellite uplink was created to distribute the signal via Hispasat’s satellite to Barcelona and Seville.

Technical partner Ateme provided encoders to help generate the video and audio streams, including the dynamic metadata provided by Dolby`s equipment to deliver Dolby Vision HDR.

Dolby Vision promises viewers with compatible equipment greater brightness and contrast, as well as a fuller palette of rich colors using dynamic metadata and Dolby’s intelligent display mapping engine, which is in each playback device.

Dolby AC-4 is a highly efficient Next Generation Audio (NGA) format, able to carry Dolby Atmos sound mixes, and offer advanced audio interactivity. An object-based sound format, it allows viewers to select audio elements directly, for example different commentaries on a soccer match.

The first commercial AC-4 services are expected to begin in 2019, with NGA-capable TVs making their debut around the same time.

“We’ve had a number of announcements by key manufacturers about shipping AC4 capable televisions into the market. Samsung and LG have made clear announcements, and we’ve had supportive statements from TP Vision and Visio. Chip manufacturer Mstar MediaTek will supply solutions,”  Dolby’s Mathias Bendull, VP of Multi-Screen Services Audio, told Inside CI.

“AC-4 is something that represents the same listening experience, but in a better way. Even satellite operators are interested in efficiency improvements.”