IBC 2019: BT Media conducts one of the world’s first live 8K sports broadcasts

BT Media (stand 0.D02) has demonstrated one of the world’s first live 8K sports broadcasts – an hour-long broadcast into IBC 2019 which builds on the group’s reputation for media and broadcast leadership.

Working with a range of established partners, BT Sport and BT’s Media & Broadcast division delivered an hour-long, live broadcast in 8K on to the BT stand at IBC in Amsterdam, showcasing the Gallagher Premiership Rugby 7s tournament taking place in Northampton, England.

Partners who supported BT’s live 8K trial include as follows:

• Appear TV (Appear X10 platform used for encoding, decoding, IP encapsulation and interfacing to the BT network for live link)
• Astro Design (8K Interface Conversion)
• Blackmagic Design (ATEM Constellation 8K for vision mixing/HyperDeck Extreme 8K HDR for recording)
• Fujinon (lenses and BT Sport preferred 4K lens partner)
• Ikegami (cameras)
• Leader (Technical Monitoring)
• MOOV (graphics)
• Samsung (showcasing the content on its 2019 8K QLED TV, the Samsung Q950R, offering resolution four times that of 4K and a total of 33 million pixels supported by HDR10+. Samsung are also the first TV manufacturer to support the BT Sport app)
• Telegenic (OB support)

Dominik Wrona, Head of Outside Broadcast at BT’s Media and Broadcast Division, said: “We have a long history of firsts, starting with HD and 3D content and now adding 8K live sports broadcasts to the list. Today’s demonstration is another example of how our specialist broadcasting division team is a global leader in the broadcasting industry, bringing to life new innovation and technology and partnering with some of the best brands in the business to make this happen.”

Jamie Hindhaugh, chief operating officer, BT Sport, said: “BT Sport has a rich history of the leading the industry with broadcast innovation, whether it’s this season’s launch of one of the world’s first HDR channels, BT Sport Ultimate, or, our 2018 world-first 5G-enabled remote production broadcast in London. Today’s 8K demonstration demonstrates the breadth of capability and know how across BT. By working with our Media & Broadcast division and other valued partners, BT Sport is underlining its position not only as a leading broadcaster, but as a leading innovator in the industry.”

The trial continues the ongoing activity from BT Sport and BT’s Media & Broadcast division:

• BT’s Media and Broadcast division delivering more events in UHD than any other UK supplier with over 4,000 hours of English Premier League football, the International Cricket Championship, IAAF World Championships and live tennis from Wimbledon’s Centre Court
• The launch last season of a BT Sport OTT strategy including an app for large screen devices such as smart TVs and games consoles.
• BT’s Media and Broadcast division has extended its UHD capabilities across Europe with its HEVC solution over satellite, enabling HDR delivery and monitoring on HD and UHD services across the continent
• This season’s launch of BT Sport Ultimate, which provides viewers with pictures and sound in ultra-high-definition (UHD), high dynamic range (HDR) and Dolby Atmos sound.
• In 2018, BT Sport, EE and other parts of BT combined to deliver the world’s first 5G-enabled live remote production broadcast in London
• BT’s Media and Broadcast division introducing the UK’s first BISS CA encryption tool which is being used on all BT Sport English Premier League games