A new report from mobile and video technology research company InterDigital spotlights Versatile Video Coding (VVC/H.266) as a standout video codec with a highly versatile design for use across an extended range of applications and capabilities far exceeding those of previous standards.

VVC/H.266 offers an up to 50% bit-rate reduction over its predecessor HEVC/H.265 and boasts enhanced capabilities to efficiently transmit ultra-high-definition content, from 4K and 8K video to high dynamic range (HDR) content and 360° and immersive video formats, said the report.

The report, titled "The Evolution of Compression in a Video-First Economy," was written by Futuresource Consulting and outlines the development path of video compression codecs that have proven to be critical in reducing bandwidth and improving efficiency in the delivery of the data dense video services and entertainment.

Providing a 360-degree view of the video compression ecosystem, the report details the landscape of video compression technology and history of video coding standards, alongside the advantages of today’s codecs for video-powered experiences and potential impact for the future.

Streaming a two-hour movie without compression would require more than 1.3TB of data, states the report, but the evolution of video compression techniques over the last 40 years now supports the seamless delivery of increased volumes of new types of video content and IP-based streaming services.

The report cites the broad transformational impact of video codecs, from state-of-the-art codecs enabling the delivery of ultra-high-definition content on IP-based streaming services, to innovation in compression techniques and AI integration reducing the computational load and latency to support immersive video applications like VR and AR, and the ability for video codecs to not only reduce storage and bandwidth but also use energy more sustainably.

“Video dominates internet traffic today, with over 3.5 billion internet users streaming or downloading some form of video at least once per month. Furthermore, there were 1.47 billion SVoD subscriptions globally at the close of 2022, with the sector posting a 12% increase in subscriber numbers year over year,” said Simon Forrest, principal technology analyst, Futuresource Consulting.

“The applications for video are expanding. Consumers spent around 11% of their time watching content from video sharing sites in 2022, up only 0.6% year over year, yet time spent viewing videos posted on social media increased by 24% over the same period. The research confirms that the industry requirement to utilize more efficient codecs is intensifying.”

The full report is available to download here.

HERTFORDSHIRE, U.K.—Broadcast control platforms have seen a solid increase in the last year, with one of the main reasons being the emergence of IP networks, according to a new report from FutureSource Consulting.

The global revenues of broadcast control platforms in 2018 came just short of $88 million, a 3% increase in value, per FutureSource’s findings. The number of complex IP projects served as a solid source for this gross. Expecting the construction of new facilities in emerging markets and the growing live sports segment, FutureSource projects broadcast control systems’ market value to surpass $103 million by Fiscal Year 2023.

Europe and North America were the value leaders, with each region seeing a 3% growth year-over-year in 2018. However, the largest growth was in the APAC region, which saw 6%. FutureSource notes that this is in part because they had a lower base as a result of limited level of IP adoption, but continued growth is expected with the addition of new IP facilities.

Broadcast control solutions can be broken down into two categories—“single vendor” and “vendor agnostic.” Vendor agnostic systems are designed to integrate products from multiple different manufacturers. These systems are growing in popularity, accounting for 52% of the revenue in 2018, with the expectation that it will continue to take market share from single vendor systems.

While not directly impacting the broadcast control market, 4K and other high resolution systems do require high bandwidth, which is causing some customers to go with IP architectures.

“4K is therefore one of the drivers toward IP adoption, opening the door for more complex and expensive broadcast control solutions,” said Adam Cox, senior analyst, imaging & pro video at FutureSource. “18% of broadcast control installations were 4K in FY18.”

For more information, access the full report here.

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HERTFORDSHIRE, ENGLAND—OTT might be one of the buzz words in the industry, but live TV is still the people’s champ, according to a recent study completed by Futuresource. The latest report from its “Living with Digital” consumer research study showed that 65 percent of people in the U.S., Canada, England, France, Germany and Australia still go with live TV for their primary viewing.

Despite a number of people dropping pay-TV services because of costs for alternative content sources like OTT, many consumers around the world are continuing to support premium tier pay-TV subscriptions. A third of respondents still using pay-TV subscribe to movie packages, and 40 percent do the same for sports; the U.S. numbers are as high as 57 percent for sports packages. Of the countries polled, France was pay-TV’s biggest supporter with 75 percent of its respondents still subscribing, with the lowest numbers coming from the U.S. and U.K., both of which sit at 59 percent.

OTT numbers are growing, however. Currently, 40 percent of U.S. respondents and 20 percent from the U.K. subscribe to Netflix. Amazon Prime also continues to rise with 23 percent in the U.S. and 10 percent in the U.K. Contributing to that growth is the emergence of connected TVs, with a third of respondents saying they own a connected TV, with 69 percent accessing video or music on it at least once a week, up from 63 percent in the previous study.

It is also shown that video is dominating the market, with 83 percent of respondents consuming all video content formats. Specifically, half of 16-25 year olds use online and connected TVs to view subscription on demand video.

The report also deals with the emergence of paid-for streaming music. To see the full report, click here.