Sky Sports has selected NTT Electronics’ contribution encoders and decoders as it looks to be the first-to-market with end-to-end HEVC UHD delivery on its sports platform.
Garland – NTT Electronics’ partner – said that Sky Sports was looking for ways to acquire its Premier League football and Formula 1 video coverage more efficiently, while further improving video quality, saving on bandwidth, and optimising power and space in its workflow.
“Sports viewers are among the most discerning when it comes to the quality of video,” said Gordon Roxburgh, technical manager, Sky. “We want to continue to be the leader in providing this audience with the highest calibre coverage. Garland was able to provide us with a solution that not only improves the quality, but is more efficient.”
Malcolm Harland, managing director, Garland, added: “We knew the answer was in the latest NTT Electronics line of UHD solutions.”
“Specifically, Sky deployed encoders and decoders from NTT Electronics’ HC11000 and HC10000 ranges. This setup allows Sky to make use of products that support HEVC UHD encoding and decoding over IP.”
Using HEVC instead of H.264 enables Sky to decide whether to improve quality or reduce expensive satellite bandwidth costs, whilst also saving on rack space. Sky is using the NTT Electronics’ ncoders and decoders in their three primary UHD contribution vehicles supporting Premier League football on Sky Q. It is also employing the NTT Electronics platforms for primary contribution of its coverage of the 20 Grand Prix in 2017.
“We’ve worked closely with Sky on several other major initiatives,” adds Harland. “It’s exciting to watch as NTT Electronics is able to take them over the finish line in Sky’s quest to be the first to acquire live UHD F1 race-day coverage over IP.”
