Real-time Video Optimization with Beamr CABR and NVIDIA Holoscan for Media

This year at the NAB Show 2024 in Las Vegas, we are excited to demonstrate our Content-Adaptive Bitrate (CABR) technology on the NVIDIA Holoscan for Media platform. By implementing CABR as a GStreamer plugin, we have, for the first time, made bitrate optimization of live video streams easily achievable in the cloud or premise.

Building on the NVIDIA DeepStream software development kit, which can extends GStreamer’s capabilities, significantly reduced the amount of code required to develop the Holoscan for Media based application. Using DeepStream components for real-time video processing and NMOS (Networked Media Open Specifications) signaling, we were able to keep our focus on the CABR technology and video processing.

The NVIDIA DeepStream SDK provides an excellent framework for developers to build and customize dynamic video processing pipelines. DeepStream provides pipeline components that make it very simple to build and deploy live video processing pipelines that utilize the hardware decoders and encoders available on all NVIDIA GPUs.

Beamr CABR dynamically adjusts video bitrate in real-time, optimizing quality and bandwidth use. It reduces data transmission without compromising video quality, making the video streaming more efficient. Recently we released our GPU implementation which uses the NVIDIA NVENC, encoder, providing significantly higher performance compared to previous solutions.

Taking our GPU implementation for CABR to the next level, we have built a GStreamer Plugin. With our GStreamer Plugin, users can now easily and seamlessly incorporate the CABR solution into their existing DeepStream pipelines as a simple drop-in replacement to their current encoder component.

Holoscan For Media


A GStreamer Pipeline Example

To illustrate the simplicity of using CABR, consider a simple DeepStream transcoding pipeline that reads and writes from files.


Simple DeepStream Pipeline:
gst-launch-1.0 -v \
  filesrc location="video.mp4" ! decodebin ! nvvideoconvert ! queue \
  nvv4l2av1enc bitrate=4500 ! mp4mux ! filesink location="output.mp4"

By simply replacing the nvv4l2av1enc component with our CABR component, the encoding bitrate is adapted in real-time, according to the content, ensuring optimal bitrate usage for each frame, without any loss of perceptual quality.


CABR-Enhanced DeepStream Pipeline:
gst-launch-1.0 -v \
  filesrc location="video.mp4" ! decodebin ! nvvideoconvert ! queue \
  beamrcabvav1 bitrate=4500 ! mp4mux ! filesink location="output_cabr.mp4"


Similarly, we can replace the encoder component used in a live streaming pipeline with the CABR component to optimize live video streams, dynamically adjusting the output bitrate and offering up to a 50% reduction in data usage without sacrificing video quality.


Simple DeepStream Pipeline:
gst-launch-1.0 -v \
  rtmpsrc location=rtmp://someurl live=1 ! decodebin ! queue ! \ 
  nvvideoconvert ! queue ! nvv4l2av1enc bitrate=3500 ! \
  av1parse ! rtpav1pay mtu=1300 ! srtsink uri=srt://:8888

CABR-Enhanced DeepStream Pipeline:
gst-launch-1.0 -v \
  rtmpsrc location=rtmp://someurl live=1 ! decodebin ! queue ! \
  nvvideoconvert ! queue ! beamrcabrav1 bitrate=3500 ! \
  av1parse ! rtpav1pay mtu=1300 ! srtsink uri=srt://:8888


The Broad Horizons of CABR Integration in Live Media

Beamr CABR, demonstrated using NVIDIA Holoscan for Media at NAB show, marks just the beginning. This technology is an ideal fit for applications running on NVIDIA RTX GPU-powered accelerated computing and sets a new standard for video encoding.

Lowering the video bitrate reduces the required bandwidth when ingesting video to the cloud, creating new possibilities where high resolution or quality were previously costly or not even possible. Similarly, reduced bitrate when encoding on the cloud allows for streaming of higher quality videos at lower cost.

From file-based encoding to streaming services — the potential use cases are diverse, and the integration has never before been so simple. Together, let’s step into the future of media
streaming, where quality and efficiency coexist without compromise.

Microservices – Good on a Bad Day [podcast]

Live streaming is arguably the least forgiving industry in today’s market. Anyone involved with live streaming workflows understands the sensitivity and high stakes involved with live streaming any event. Your viewers, on the other hand, don’t factor in the complexities of what happens behind the scenes when it comes to their quality expectations – but they certainly notice when something goes awry. In the words of id3as’ Adrien Roe, “What differentiates a great service from a merely good service is what happens when things go wrong.” And that’s where microservices can save the day.

In “Episode 07: Microservices – Good on a Bad Day,” The Video Insiders sit down with Dom Robinson & Dr. Adrian Roe from id3as to discuss how broadcasters are leveraging microservices to solve some of their workflow challenges.

https://youtu.be/Bt2earTfEU8

Press play to hear a snippet from Episode 07 or click here for the full episode.

Want to join the conversation? Reach out to TheVideoInsiders@beamr.com

2016 Paves the Way for a Next-Gen Video Encoding Technology Explosion in 2017

2016 has been a significant year for video compression as 4K, HDR, VR and 360 video picked up steam, paving the road for an EXPLOSION of HEVC adoption in 2017. With HEVC’s ability to reduce bitrate and file sizes up to 50% over H.264, it is no surprise that HEVC has transitioned to be the essential enabler of high-quality and reliable streaming video powering all the new and exciting entertainment experiences being launched.

Couple this with the latest announcement from HEVC Advance removing royalty uncertainties that plagued the market in 2016 and we have a perfect marriage of technology and capability with HEVC.

In this post we’ll discuss 2016 from the lenses of Beamr’s own product and company news, combined with notable trends that will shape 2017 in the advanced video encoding space.  

>> The Market Speaks: Setting the Groundwork for an Explosion of HEVC

The State of 4K

With 4K content creation growing and the average selling price of UHD 4K TVs dropping (and being adopted faster than HDTVs), 4K is here and the critical mass of demand will follow closely. We recently did a little investigative research on the state of 4K and four of the most significant trends pushing its adoption by consumers:

  • The upgrade in picture quality is significant and will drive an increase in value to the consumer – and, most importantly, additional revenue opportunities for services as consumers are preconditioned to pay more for a premium experience. It only takes a few minutes viewing time to see that 4K offers premium video quality and enhances the entertainment experience.
  • Competitive forces are operating at scale – Service Providers and OTT distributors will drive the adoption of 4K. MSO are upping their game and in 2017 you will see several deliver highly formidable services to take on pure play OTT distributors. Who’s going to win, who’s going to lose? We think it’s going to be a win-win as services are able to increase ARPUs and reduce churn, while consumers will be able to actually experience the full quality and resolution that their new TV can deliver.
  • Commercially available 4K UHD services will be scaling rapidly –  SNL Kagan forecasts the number of global UHD Linear channels at 237 globally by 2020, which is great news for consumers. The UltraHD Forum recently published a list of UHD services that are “live” today numbering 18 VOD and 37 Live services with 8 in the US and 47 outside the US. Clearly, content will not be the weak link in UHD 4K market acceptance for much longer.
  • Geographic deployments — 4K is more widely deployed in Asia Pacific and Western Europe than in the U.S. today. But we see this as a massive opportunity since many people are traveling abroad and thus will be exposed to the incredible quality. They will then return home to question their service provider, why they had to travel outside the country to see 4K. Which means as soon as the planned services in the U.S. are launched, they will likely attract customer more quickly than we’ve seen in the past.

HDR adds WOW factor to 4K

High Dynamic Range (HDR) improves video quality by going beyond more pixels to increase the amount of data delivered by each pixel. HDR video is capable of capturing a larger range of brightness and luminosity to produce an image closer to what can be seen in real life. Show anyone HDR content encoded in 4K resolution, and it’s no surprise that content providers and TV manufacturers are quickly jumping on board to deliver content with HDR. Yes, it’s “that good.” There is no disputing that HDR delivers the “wow” factor that the market and consumers are looking for. But what’s even more promising is the industry’s overwhelmingly positive reaction to it. Read more here.

Beamr has been working with Dolby to enable Dolby Vision HDR support for several years now, even jointly presenting a white paper at SMPTE in 2014. The V.265 codec is optimized for Dolby Vision and HDR10 and takes into account all requirements for both standards including full support for VUI signaling, SEI messaging, SMPTE ST 2084:2014 and ITU-R BT.2020. For more information visit http://beamr.com/vanguard-by-beamr-content-adaptive-hevc-codec-sdk

Beamr is honored to have customers who are best in class and span OTT delivery, Broadcast, Service Providers and other entertainment video applications. From what we see and hear, studios are uber excited about HDR, cable companies are prepping for HDR delivery, Satellite distributors are building the capability to distribute HDR, and of course OTT services like Netflix, FandangoNow (formerly M-GO), VUDU, and Amazon are already distributing content using either Dolby Vision or HDR10 (or both). If your current video encoding workflow cannot fully support or adequately encode content with HDR, it’s time to update. Our V.265 video encoder SDK is a perfect place to start.

VR & 360 Video at Streamable Bitrates

360-degree video made a lot of noise in 2016.  YouTube, Facebook and Twitter added support for 360-degree videos, including live streaming in 360 degrees, to their platforms. 360-degree video content and computer-generated VR content is being delivered to web browsers, mobile devices, and a range of Virtual Reality headsets.  The Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Gear VR and Daydream View have all shipped this year, creating a new market for immersive content experiences.

But, there is an inherent problem with delivering VR and 360 video on today’s platforms.  In order to enable HD video viewing in your “viewport” (the part of the 360-degree space that you actually look at), the resolution of the full 360 video delivered to you should be 4K or more.  On the other hand, the devices on the market today which are used to view this content, including desktops, mobile devices and VR headsets only support H.264 video decoding. So delivering the high-resolution video content requires very high bitrates – twice as much as using the more modern HEVC standard.

The current solution to this issue is lowered video quality in order to fit the H.264 video stream into a reasonable bandwidth. This creates an experience for users which is not the best possible, a factor that can discourage them from consuming this newly-available VR and 360 video content.  But there’s one thing we know for sure – next generation compression including HEVC and content adaptive encoding – and perceptual optimization – will be a critical part of the final solution. Read more about VR and 360 here.

Patent Pool HEVC Advance Announces “Royalty Free” HEVC software

As 4K, HDR, VR and 360 video gathers steam, Beamr has seen the adoption rate moving faster than expected, but with the unanswered questions around royalties, and concerns of who would shoulder the cost burden, distributors have been tentative. The latest move by HEVC Advance to offer a royalty free option is meant to encourage and accelerate the adoption (implementation) of HEVC, by removing royalty uncertainties.

Internet streaming distributors and software application providers can be at ease knowing they can offer applications with HEVC software decoders without incurring onerous royalties or licensing fees. This is important as streaming app content consumption continues to increase, with more and more companies investing in its future.

By initiating a software-only royalty solution, HEVC Advance expects this move to push the rest of the market i.e. device manufacturers and browser providers to implement HEVC capability in their hardware and offer their customers the best and most efficient video experience possible.

 

>> 2017 Predictions

Mobile Video Services will Drive the Need for Content-adaptive Optimization

Given the trend toward better quality and higher resolution (4K), it’s more important than ever for video content distributors to pursue more efficient methods of encoding their video so they can adapt to the rapidly changing market, and this is where content-adaptive optimization provides a massive benefit.

The boundaries between OTT services and traditional MSO (cable and satellite) are being blurred now that all major MSOs include TVE (TV Everywhere streaming services with both VOD and Linear channels) in their subscription packages (some even break these services out separately as is the case with SlingTV). And in October, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson vowed that DirecTV Now would disrupt the pay-TV business with revolutionary pricing for an  Internet-streaming service at a mere $35 per month for a package with more than 100 channels.

And get this – AT&T wireless is adopting the practice of “zero rating” for their customers, that is, they will not count the OTT service streaming video usage toward the subscriber’s monthly data plan. This represents a great value for customers, but there is no doubt that it puts pricing pressure on the operational side of all zero rated services.

2017 is the year that consumers will finally be able to enjoy linear as well as VOD content anywhere they wish even outside the home.

Beamr’s Contribution to MSOs, Service Providers, and OTT Distributors is More Critical Than Ever

When reaching to consumers across multiple platforms, with different constraints and delivery cost models, Beamr’s content adaptive optimizer perfects the encoding process to the most efficient quality and bitrate combination.

Whether you pay by the bit delivered to a traditional CDN provider, or operate your own infrastructure, the benefits of delivering less traffic are realized with improved UX such as faster stream start times and reduced re-buffering events, in addition to the cost savings. One popular streaming service reported to us that after implementing our content-adaptive optimization solution their rebuffering events as measured on the player were reduced by up to 50%, while their stream start times improved 20%.

Recently popularized by Netflix and Google, content-adaptive encoding is the idea that not all videos are created equal in terms of their encoding requirements. Content-adaptive optimization complements the encoding process by driving the encoder to the lowest bitrate possible based on the needs of the content, and not a fixed target bitrate (as seen in traditional encoding processes and products).

A content-adaptive solution can optimize more efficiently by analyzing already-encoded video on a frame-by-frame and scene-by-scene level, detecting areas of the video that can be further compressed without losing perceptual quality (e.g. slow motion scenes, smooth surfaces).

Provided the perceptual quality calculation is performed at the frame level with an optimizer that contains a closed loop perceptual quality measure, the output can be guaranteed to be the highest quality at the lowest bitrate possible. Click the following link to learn how Beamr’s patented content adaptive optimization technology achieves exactly this result.

Encoding and Optimization Working Together to Build the Future

Since the content-adaptive optimization process is applied to files that have already been encoded, by combining an industry leading H.264 and HEVC encoder with the best optimization solution (Beamr Video), the market will be sure to benefit by receiving the highest quality video at the lowest possible bitrate and file size. As a result, this will allow content providers to improve the end-user experience with high quality video, while meeting the growing network constraints due to increased mobile consumption and general Internet congestion.

Beamr made a bold step towards delivering on this stated market requirement by disrupting the video encoding space when in April 2016 we acquired Vanguard Video – a premier video encoding and technology company. This move will benefit the industry starting in 2017 when we introduce a new class of video encoder that we call a Content Adaptive Encoder.

As content adaptive encoding techniques are being adopted by major streaming services and video platforms like YouTube and Netflix, the market is gearing up for more advanced rate control and optimization methods, something that fits our perceptual quality measure technology perfectly. This fact when combined with Beamr having the best in class HEVC software encoder in the industry, will yield exciting benefits for the market. Read the Beamr Encoder Superguide that details the most popular methods for performing content adaptive encoding and how you can integrate them into your video workflow.

One Year from Now…

In one year from now when you read our post summarizing 2017 and heralding 2018, what you will likely hear is that 2017 was the year that advanced codecs like HEVC combined with efficient perceptually based quality measures, such as Beamr’s, provide an additional 20% or greater bitrate reduction.

The ripple effect of this technology leap will be that services struggling to compete today on quality or bitrate, may fall so far behind that they lose their ability to grow the market. We know of many multi-service operator platforms who are gearing up to increase the quality of their video beyond the current best of class for OTT services. That is correct, they’ve watched the consumer response to new entrants in the market offering superior video quality, and they are not sitting still. In fact, many are planning to leapfrog the competition with their aggressive adoption of content adaptive perceptual quality driven solutions.  

If any one service assumes they have the leadership position based on bitrate or quality, 2017 may prove to be a reshuffling of the deck.

For Beamr, the industry can expect to see an expansion of our software encoder line with the integration of our perceptual quality measure which has been developed over the last 7 years, and is covered by more than 50 patents granted and pending. We are proud of the fact that this solution has been shipping for more than 3 years in our stand-alone video and photo optimizer solutions.

It’s going to be an exciting year for Beamr and the industry and we welcome you to join us. If you are intrigued and would like to learn more about our products or are interested in evaluating any of our solutions, check us out at beamr.com.

Patent Pool HEVC Advance Responds: Announces “Royalty Free” HEVC Software

HEVC Advance Releases New Software Policy

November 22nd 2016 may be shown by history as the day that wholesale adoption of HEVC as the preferred next generation codec began. For companies like Beamr who are innovating on next-generation video encoding technologies such as HEVC, the news HEVC Advance announced on to drop royalties (license fees) on certain applications of their patents is huge.

In their press release, HEVC Advance, the patent pool for key HEVC technologies stated that they will not seek a license fee or royalties on software applications that utilize the HEVC compression standard for encoding and decoding. This carve out only applies to software which is able to be run on commodity servers, but we think the restriction fits beautifully with where the industry is headed.

Did you catch that? NO HEVC ROYALTIES FOR SOFTWARE ENCODERS AND DECODERS!

Specifically, the policy will protect  “application layer software downloaded to mobile devices or personal computers after the initial sales of the device, where the HEVC encoding or decoding is fully executed in software on a general purpose CPU” from royalty and licensing fees.  

Requirements of Eligible Software

For those trying to wrap their heads around eligibility, the new policy outlines three requirements which the software products performing HEVC decoding or encoding must meet:

  1. Application layer software, or codec libraries used by application layer software, enabling software-only encoding or decoding of HEVC.
  2. Software downloaded after the initial sale of a related product (mobile device or desktop personal computer). In the case of software which otherwise would fit the exclusion but is being shipped with a product, then the manufacturer of the product would need to pay a royalty.
  3. Software must not be specifically excluded.

Examples of exempted software applications where an HEVC decode royalty will likely not be due includes web browsers, personal video conferencing software and video players provided by various internet streaming distributors or software application providers.

For more information check out  https://www.hevcadvance.com/

As stated previously, driven by the rise of virtual private and public cloud encoding workflows, provided an HEVC encoder meets the eligibility requirements, for many companies it appears that there will not be an added cost to utilize HEVC in place of H.264.

A Much Needed Push for HEVC Adoption

As 4k, HDR, VR and 360 video are gathering steam, Beamr has seen the adoption rate moving faster than expected, but with the unanswered questions around royalties, and concerns of the cost burden, even the largest distributors have been tentative. This move by HEVC Advance is meant to encourage and accelerate the adoption (implementation) of HEVC, by removing uncertainties in the market.

Internet streaming distributors and software application providers can be at ease knowing they can offer applications with HEVC software decoders without incurring onerous royalties or licensing fees. This is important as streaming app content consumption continues to increase, with more and more companies investing in its future.

By initiating a software-only royalty solution, HEVC Advance expects this move to push the rest of the market i.e. device manufacturers and browser providers to implement HEVC capability in their hardware and offer their customers the best and most efficient video experience possible.

What this Means for a Video Distributor

Beamr is the leader in H.265/HEVC encoding. With 60 engineers around the world working at the codec level to produce the highest performing HEVC codec SDK in the market, Beamr V.265 delivers exceptional quality with much better scalability than any other software codec.

Industry benchmarks are showing that H.265/HEVC provides on average a 30% bitrate efficiency for the same quality and resolution over H.264. Which given the bandwidth pressure all networks are under to upgrade quality while minimizing the bits used, there is only one video encoding technology available at scale to meet the needs of the market, and that is HEVC.

The classic chicken and egg problem no longer exists with HEVC.

The challenge every new technology faces as it is introduced into the market is the classic problem of needing to attract implementers and users. In the case of a video encoding technology, without an appropriately scaled video playback ecosystem, no matter the benefits, it cannot be deployed without a sufficiently large number of players in the market.

But the good news is that over the last few years, and as consumers have propelled the TV upgrade cycle forward, many have opted to purchase UHD 4k TVs.

Most of the 2015-2016 models of major brand TVs have built-in HEVC decoders and this trend will continue in 2017 and beyond. Netflix, Amazon, VUDU, and FandangoNow (M-GO) are shipping their players on most models of UHD TVs that are capable of decoding and playing back H.265/HEVC content from these services. These distributors were all able to utilize the native HEVC decoder in the TV, easing the complexity of launching a 4k app.

For those who wonder if there is a sufficiently large ecosystem of HEVC playback in the market, just look at the 90 million TVs that are in homes today globally (approximately 40 million are in the US). And consider that in 2017 the number of 4k HEVC capable TV’s will nearly double to 167 million according to Cisco, as illustrated below.

cisco-vni-global-ip-traffic-forecast-2015-2020

The industry has spoken regarding the superior quality and performance of Beamr’s own HEVC encoder, and we will be providing benchmarks and documentation in future blog posts. Meanwhile our team of architects and implementation specialists who work with the largest service providers, SVOD consumer streaming services, and broadcasters in the world are ready to discuss your migration plans from H.264 to HEVC.

Just fill out our short Info Request form and the appropriate person will get in touch.

Shows Without Safety Nets: The Lasting Appeal of Live TV

Live video streaming is certainly popular these days, but it’s not a new concept. Instead, it hearkens back to a beloved form of 20th-century entertainment: live scripted television. In fact, this type of non-news, non-sports programming endures to this day.

Live TV Enthralls a Nation

During the 1950s, comedies and dramas on TV were often live. Variety programs like “Your Show of Shows” were full of energetic comedy sketches. Anthology shows were popular as well. “Playhouse 90,” for one, staged different dramatic productions each week. When you tuned in, it was like watching a 90-minute play. For example, “Days of Wine and Roses,” which concerns a couple battling alcoholism, was a gripping 1958 TV movie before it became an acclaimed 1962 film.

However, in 1951, CBS decided to film “I Love Lucy” in front of a studio audience. By the 1960s, live primetime TV had become scarce partly due to this show’s success.

Live Sitcoms? Not.

Let’s give credit to “Roc,” a Fox sitcom about a sanitation worker. The show averaged around 9 million viewers during its first season (1991-92). But when it aired a live show in February 1992, the episode attracted approximately 11 million. The producers then decided to do the whole second season live. It didn’t go as well the second time around.

In March 2015, NBC’s “Undateable” revived this approach. The comedy, which revolves around some slovenly singles, televised a season of live episodes. Unfortunately, like “Roc,” it’s far from a hit.

Live Episodes and Musicals

In 1997, the season premiere of the NBC medical drama “ER,” entitled “Ambush,” was broadcast live. Cast member George Clooney, a fan of 1950s TV, had urged the producers to approve a live episode. The actors had to perform it twice, the second time for the West Coast. With 42.7 million viewers, it was a massive ratings success. And it prompted several other shows to telecast their own live episodes, including NBC’s “30 Rock” and “The West Wing.”

Additionally, in recent years, television has been lighting up social media with live versions of musicals. This trend started with 2013’s “The Sound of Music Live!” on NBC, which starred country singer Carrie Underwood. Filmed at New York’s Grumman Studios, it was the first live Broadway musical on TV in more than 50 years. Nearly 38.7 million viewers caught at least some of this three-hour show, and it averaged about 18.6 million viewers at any one moment.

Video Streaming: Live TV for the 21st Century?

Live TV has lasted because it gives people the feeling that they’re having a unique experience. After all, no one knows what might happen during such a performance. Actors could forget their lines, or an earthquake could hit the studio.

Live video streaming offers that same anything-can-happen thrill. Plus, marketing professionals value it as it lets them interact with consumers and get a sense of their opinions.

Best of all, these videos draw people closer. Friends and family members can sit with laptops, tablets and smartphones and watch them at the same time. Whether they’re in the same room or viewing remotely, a special camaraderie arises. It’s the emotional connection that forms when you know that others are feeling what you’re feeling. Yes, there’s real joy in laughing, crying and gasping as a group.

Moreover, whenever you’re watching a video of a one-time-only event ― for instance, a Periscope video of a birth or graduation ― the shared viewing becomes even more powerful.

It’s the kind of togetherness that many people must’ve known as they gathered in living rooms to watch “Your Show of Shows” and “Playhouse 90” way back when.

Which has us thinking, will services like Facebook live become the new reality TV format? With Facebook now serving 8 billion views a day, a 100% increase over just 6 months earlier according to this TechCrunch article. There is no doubt that the shared, social experience of live video is here to stay.

But what this means technically is what motivates Beamr’s team of 60 video codec engineers and image scientists to not stop innovating. As consumer expectations are increasing for better video quality and improved streaming stability, never before has the need for high quality video encoding that makes the best use of as few bits as possible, been needed.

The State of Commercially Available 4K UHD Services

In a recent article we did a little investigative research on the state of 4K and four significant trends:

  1. The upgrade in picture quality is significant and will drive an increase in value to the consumer – and additional revenues for services.
  2. Competitive forces are operating at scale – Service Providers and OTT distributors will drive the adoption of 4K.
  3. SNL Kagen forecasts the number of global UHD Linear channels at 95 by the end of 2016 – and 237 globally by 2020.
  4. Geography. 4K is already far more widely deployed in Asia Pacific and Western Europe than in the U.S.

In this article we want to further highlight the state of commercially available 4K UHD services. The UltraHD Forum published a list of UHD services that are “live” and it’s worth checking out.

To break it down, there are 18 VOD and 37 Live services with 8 in the US and 47 outside the US.

The 4K adoption rate isn’t moving as slowly as one might think, so don’t make the mistake of misreading its speed. It’s time to start building your 4K workflows now as the competitive pressure is fast approaching.

Note: The following UHD service chart is courtesy UltraHD Forum.

Operator Country Service Topology Delivery Model Notes
AcTVila Japan VoD OTT Unicast ABR
airtel 4K India Live IPTV broadcast
Amazon US VoD OTT Unicast ABR
Bein Middle East Live DTH Broadcast
BT UK Live IPTV broadcast
Comcast US Push VoD Cable DOCSIS 3.x NBC used HDR10 & Atmos for Rio Olympics
Dalian Tiantu China TS Playout Cable unverified
DirecTV US VoD DTH Push VoD
Dish UHD promo Live IPTV broadcast
Fashion one (SES) Luxembourg Live DTH broadcast
Festival4K France Live IPTV broadcast
Fransat France Live DTH broadcast
Fransat France TS Playout DTH broadcast
Free France Live IPTV Multicast Android middleware, 1 channel at launch: Fashion TV loop
Globo TV Brazil VoD OTT Unicast ABR
High 4K TV Live IPTV broadcast
insight Live IPTV broadcast
Inspur China Live Cable unverified
J:COM Japan Live Cable Broadcast
KPN Netherlands Live IPTV Multicast
KT Korea Live IPTV Multicast
LG Uplus Korea VoD / Live ? IPTV Multicast
M-Go US VoD OTT Unicast ABR
Nasa TV US/Europe Live IPTV broadcast
Netflix US VoD OTT Unicast ABR
NOS Portugal Live Cable Broadcast, Multicast, Unicast ABR OTT trials have occured
NTT Plala Japan Live / VoD IPTV Multicast
Orange France France Live IPTV Multicast Dolby Atmos available on some broadcasts
pearl tv Luxembourg Live DTH broadcast
SFR France Live IPTV Multicast UHD used to promote Fiber
SKBB Korea Live IPTV Multicast
Sky Deutschland Germany Live / Push-VoD DTH / Cable broadcast Launched October 5th 2016, 2 Live channels + Push VoD
Sky Italia Italy Live DTH broadcast “Super HD” launched June 2016, HDR Announced for 2017
Sky UK UK Live DTH broadcast Available to premium Sky Q customers
SkyLife Korea Live DTH broadcast
SkyPerfecTV Japan Live DTH / Opticast broadcast HDR announced for October 2016
Slovak Telecom Slovakia VoD OTT Unicast ABR
Sony US VoD OTT Unicast ABR
Sth Korea’s Pandora Korea VoD OTT Unicast ABR
Stofa Dennmark Live cable Multicast Viasat Ultra HD
Swisscom Switzerland Live & VoD IPTV Multicast Testing HDR
Tata Sky India Live DTH broadcast cricket world cup’15
Telekom Malaysia Malaysia Live IPTV Multicast Demonstration/Trials – Launch soon
Telus Canada VoD OTT Unicast ABR Starts with VoD – Live coming soon
Tivusat Italy Live DTH Broadcast
Tricolor Russia TS Playout DTH broadcast
Turkcell Turkey Live IPTV Multicast
UHD-1 Live IPTV broadcast
UMAX Korea TS Playout Cable broadcast
Videocon India Live DTH broadcast cricket world cup’15
Vidity US VoD OTT Unicast ABR
Vodafone Portugal Portugal Live IPTV Multicast
Vodafone Spain Spain Live / VoD IPTV Multicast, Unicast
VUDU US VoD OTT Unicast ABR Dolby Vision and Atmos support announced
waiku tv France VoD OTT Unicast ABR