Envivio Software Powers World-First Live 4K Broadcast at French Open Tennis Tournament in France
Digital terrestrial TV provider TDF uses Envivio HEVC video processing technology for French Open 4K broadcast
South San Francisco, CALIF.(27 May 2014)
Envivio (NASDAQ: ENVI), a leading provider of software-based video processing and delivery solutions, today announced that its 4K Ultra HD compression technology is being used by French broadcaster TDF for live streaming of the French Open 2014 tennis championship to compatible 4K TV sets in France. This represents the world’s first digital terrestrial television (DTT) broadcast video transmission delivered in 4K, using HEVC (H.265) compression.
Coverage of various matches from the Center Court will be broadcast by TDF in DVB-T2 format to TNT, the national DTT service, and will be viewable on compatible Panasonic 4K TVs as well as other compatible 4K television sets. This will include TV sets at the RG Lab on France Televisions’ booth as well as at French Tennis Federation’s facilities on the Champs de Mars near to the Eiffel Tower transmission facility. The 4K video being distributed is encoded at 50 frames per second usingEnvivio Muse Ultra HD encoding software on Envivio G5 appliances.
Organized by the International Tennis Federation and the French Tennis Federation, the French Open is one of the four international Grand Slam events for tennis, and draws millions of viewers from around the globe. The 2014 competition takes place in Paris from May 25-June 8.
“Envivio has provided an outstanding contribution for the debut of live 4K HEVC video transmissions over a DTT network at the French Open tournament,” said Alain Komly, deputy director at TDF. “The sharpness and rich quality of the video is absolutely stunning, and we are excited to present this emerging technology for the first time in France.”
“The French Open is one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world, and we are extremely pleased to provide the compression technology for this world-first, over-the-air broadcast in 4K Ultra HD, in partnership with TDF and TNT,” said Julien Signès, Envivio’s president and CEO. “Our Muse video processing software has been fine-tuned for 4K to provide the best video quality possible, while leveraging the efficiency of HEVC to optimize bandwidth efficiency.”
Envivio Muse Ultra HD is a high-quality live or file-based video encoding/transcoding solution that offers a new TV experience for end-users desiring to watch ultra-high quality programming on Ultra HD compatible devices. Muse Ultra HD can encode up to 4K video resolution (four times HD resolution) in up to 60 frames per second, offers a larger color range with the new BT 2020 standard and can be encoded in eight or 10 bits. Ultra HD resolution offers significant value to operators looking to deliver premium video services, such as high-profile sports events, in the best possible quality.
Envivio Muse software is designed to support both live and on-demand 4K compression in HEVC format. The HEVC standard reduces bandwidth consumption compared to MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) by 30 to 50 percent, improving the video experience and reducing cost of operations for both Ultra HD big-screen services and existing mobile or over-the-top TV services.
Envivio Muse Ultra HD was recently named Best of Show at NAB 2014, by Video Edge Magazine. Envivio is the pioneer in software-based video processing solutions, and more than 300 content and service providers around the globe have selected Envivio to power their multi-screen and pay TV services. Visit www.envivio.com to learn more about TV without boundaries.
About TDF
Backed by our 6,690 sites, our ultra-high speed network, our technical platforms, our know-how and our customers, the future begins now. Our business consists of connected DTT, video-on-demand, catch-up TV,web media, ultra high speed connections, datacenters. Our goal is to support you so that you look forward to tomorrow.
Welcome to the world connected by TDF. www.tdf.fr
About Envivio
Envivio (NASDAQ:ENVI) is the leader in software-based video processing and delivery solutions for any screen, with over 300 content and service provider customers worldwide. Envivio solutions remove the boundaries of traditional television and enable operators to increase their revenues, by providing viewers with best-in-class video quality and a compelling, personalized experience. Envivio is headquartered in South San Francisco, California and has offices worldwide including France, England, China, Singapore and Japan. Visit www.envivio.com for more information.