Fraunhofer Technology Key to TV’s Audio Future
And Now a Word from our Sponsor …
ATSC 2015 sponsor Fraunhofer is the developer of MP3, co-developer of AAC and a central member of the new MPEG-H Audio Alliance proposing the new audio system for ATSC 3.0. Fraunhofer’s audio codecs have transformed not only the music industry but also radio and TV broadcasting, with about half the world’s TV surround sound using the AAC codec family, including the BBC, NHK in Japan, and TV Globo in Brazil.
According to Fraunhofer, the new system from the MPEG-H Audio Alliance being considered for ATSC 3.0 satisfies the ATSC’s requirements for a next-generation audio codec, providing interactivity, immersive sound and universal delivery. Interactivity will allow viewers to turn up an announcer for more intelligibility, select a different “home team: commentary, or listen in on their favorite race driver’s radio. Immersive sound is a step beyond surround sound including overhead speakers or 3D soundbars to allow listeners to “become part of the audience, instead of a viewer” through a more realistic experience. Universal delivery will allow the same stream to reach not only TVs, but tablet or mobile devices in the best quality for each device.
It’s an exciting time for ATSC 3.0 audio and Fraunhofer, as they have just re-created their NAB live broadcast demonstration at the July round of ATSC face-to-face meetings in Atlanta, showing content from their MPEG-H field tests with major sports broadcasters and from immersive feature films converted to MPEG-H by Alliance partner Technicolor.
Posted in ATSC News
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