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Thomson Video Networks to deliver HD channels for UK Freeview

Broadcaster Thompson Video Networks has announced that the BBC is ready to broadcast five high-quality general entertainment HD channels from a single DVB-T2 multiplex using Thomson Video Networks' ViBE EM3000 encoders.

Thomson Video Networks has announced that the BBC is ready to broadcast five high-quality general entertainment HD channels from a single DVB-T2 multiplex using Thomson Video Networks’ ViBE EM3000 encoders.

The ViBE EM3000 provides encoding improvements enabling the delivery of a fifth channel within DTT Multiplex B, while maintaining uncompromised picture quality on existing channels. On 22 July 2011, the holder of the Multiplex B license (BBC Free to View) delivered a report to Ofcom, the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, setting out its view that five HD services could be accommodated in Multiplex B before the end of 2011. Following its own technical assessment, Ofcom published a report on 5 September 2011, supporting the launch of a fifth service. Ofcom also stated that broadcasters involved in Freeview had been satisfied with the test method and had confirmed that five HD channels could be broadcast on a single DVB-T2 multiplex. As a result, Ofcom sent out an invitation to apply for this fifth channel. “The BBC’s report recognizes the potential of continuing improvement in encoding technology, and the real-world benefits of Thomson’s ViBE EM3000,” said Christophe Delahousse, president of Thomson Video Networks. “Thomson Video Networks is the market leader in the field, and our efforts are constantly focused on developing evermore efficient encoding to enable our customers to achieve higher quality services and meet their business goals.” Thomson’s ViBE EM3000 HD MPEG-2/MPEG-4 AVC encoder combines compression efficiency and advanced preprocessing to deliver clearer pictures with increased depth and clarity, broadcasting high-quality HD content at bit rates as low as 4 Mb/s. With new generation HD MPEG-2 encoding that supports double the number of MPEG-2 channels compared to older-generation encoders, the ViBE EM3000 helps to simplify headend infrastructure with features such as Dolby E decoding, Dolby Digital Plus, and HE-AAC surround sound encoding. www.thomson-networks.com