Synamedia’s Vivid compression technology helps bring the UK’s first live 8K broadcast of a live sporting event into the home

Synamedia’s Vivid compression platform, powered by AMD EPYC 7763 processors, have distributed BT Sport’s 8K-UHD broadcast of the Saracens vs. Bristol Bears Gallagher Premiership Rugby on 26 March 2022. This accomplishment was the UK’s first live 8K home broadcast of a top-tier sporting event delivered in 8K using a single CPU to encode the broadcast.

“Within six months, we’ve delivered on our promise to distribute 8K content at scale and cost effectively to help kickstart the 8K economy,” said Elke Hungenaert, vice president, product management, Synamedia. “Our highly efficient software-defined, AI-based compression algorithms, combined with the power of the AMD EPYC processor high core-counts, deliver on the market demand for immersive experiences to feel as if fans are ‘in the game’. The global implications of this deployment with BT Sport will ignite live sports streaming in 8K for years to come; we’re excited to be a part of it.”

Along with the AMD EPYC processors, Vivid compression delivers pin-sharp sports scenes by eliminating the need for multiple tiles and other technology tricks which compromise video quality. Its artificial intelligence-based algorithms remove the need for technology trade-offs by leveraging the full codec toolset.

“Our technology partnership with Synamedia has already helped drive the industry forward and we’re proud to support companies like BT Sport on their mission to deliver high-quality viewing experiences,” said James Knight, director, global media & entertainment – VFX, AMD. “Our collaboration has already supported one industry-first and we’re excited for the many more to come.”

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