With TV Everywhere services expected to be a major theme at the annual IBC trade show which kicked off in Amsterdam this morning, the creation of more efficient video compressions standards is likely to dominate discussions, such as the new HEVC (H.265) standard.
HEVC is expected to supersede the current AVC (H.264) standard, and is billed as being capable of reducing bandwidth requirements by as much as 50%, whilst maintaining video quality levels.
To put that in practical terms, it is thought capable of delivering 720p HD quality video at 2 Mbps or less over a managed or unmanaged broadened network. The new standard is in its final draft and is expected to be approved by early 2013.
New techniques and innovations have been applied to the development of HEVC including the introduction of hierarchical coding units and additional transform sizes. The efficiencies delivered by HEVC are also underpinned by new, and improved, motion vector prediction and motion compensation methods.
Among those staging practical demonstrations of the new HEVC compressions standard are Californian firm MobiTV, a leading provider of TV Everywhere solutions, which recently announced plans to expand its EMEA operations by establishing a new hub in London, headed up by company president Paul Scanlan.
