DVB-T2/HEVC Trial Begins in Berlin

By Doug Lung
published

BroadbandTVNews.com reports Media Broadcast kicks off DVB-T2/HEVC trial in Berlin. John Krieger writes, “Funkturm Berlin AlexanderplatzGerman transmitter network operator Media Broadcast has launched a large-scale trial to evaluate digital terrestrial TV distribution system DVB-T2 in combination with the new compression standard HEVC/H.265 in Berlin. The major German public and commercial broadcasters, industry associations and hardware manufacturers are partners in the 18-month test run. The trial will provide the hardware industry with a test environment to develop and test reception devices, both for stationary and mobile use.”

The trial will transmit at data rates between 18 and 28 Mbps on channel 42 at 50 kW ERP from transmitter sites at Alexanderplatz and Schaferberg. Another DVB-T trial is taking place in Munich by German broadcast technology institute IRT in conjunction with ARD's Bavarian affiliate BR in Munich.

The Berlin trial is supported by ARD, ZDF, Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, ProSiebenSat.1, ARTE, Samsung, Sony, LG Electronics, Panasonic, Philips, Loewe, Humax, TechniSat, Rohde & Schwarz, Sagemcom, Funke and Broadcom as well as industry associations Deutsche TV-Plattform, VPRT, DVB and ZVEI.

Doug Lung
Doug Lung

Doug Lung is one of America's foremost authorities on broadcast RF technology. As vice president of Broadcast Technology for NBCUniversal Local, H. Douglas Lung leads NBC and Telemundo-owned stations’ RF and transmission affairs, including microwave, radars, satellite uplinks, and FCC technical filings. Beginning his career in 1976 at KSCI in Los Angeles, Lung has nearly 50 years of experience in broadcast television engineering. Beginning in 1985, he led the engineering department for what was to become the Telemundo network and station group, assisting in the design, construction and installation of the company’s broadcast and cable facilities. Other projects include work on the launch of Hawaii’s first UHF TV station, the rollout and testing of the ATSC mobile-handheld standard, and software development related to the incentive auction TV spectrum repack.
A longtime columnist for TV Technology, Doug is also a regular contributor to IEEE Broadcast Technology. He is the recipient of the 2023 NAB Television Engineering Award. He also received a Tech Leadership Award from TV Tech publisher Future plc in 2021 and is a member of the IEEE Broadcast Technology Society and the Society of Broadcast Engineers.