Fraunhofer Liaison Office BrazilMPEG-H is presented at the Brazilian Ministry of Communications
Fraunhofer representatives presented the MPEG-H technology to Brazilian government officials ahead of the SBTVD Forum's technology testing phase for the TV 3.0 project.
The Brazilian government is working to switch the country's entire analog TV infrastructure to full digitalization by December 2023. In parallel, the Brazilian Digital Terrestrial TV System Forum (SBTVD Forum) is overseeing the launch of the TV 2.5 standard, which enhances the existing transmission infrastructure with new features, and the TV 3.0 project, which tests and evaluates new technologies for the next generation transmission system.
MPEG-H has already been included in the SBTVD TV 2.5 transmission specifications for enhanced audio experiences in ISDB-Tb. It is also the most advanced audio system proposed in response to the call for proposals for TV 3.0. For this reason, the Fraunhofer IIS institute was invited to present the technology to government officials and industry experts during the "Semana Nacional das Comunicações" (National Communications Week), held by the Brazilian Ministry of Communications in early May 2021. During the weeklong event, the next steps of the modernization project were discussed and the Minister of Communications, Fábio Faria, signed off on the plans for the next steps of the technology assessment carried out by the SBTVD Forum
Several universities around the country will take a closer look at the suitability of some technologies, including MPEG-H, that have already been tested in large-scale transmissions. Together with key industry partners, Fraunhofer IIS will provide the SBTVD Forum with a complete transmission system to enable the evaluation of all MPEG-H audio features in the most challenging live broadcast scenarios.
The Brazilian Ministry of Communications is pursuing a range of audio technology features that will become the broadcast standard in the coming decades. These features include immersive sound that can be played on various types of devices, ease of use, and a high degree of interactivity, personalization, and accessibility. According to the official statement released by the Brazilian Ministry of Communications, Broadcasting Secretary Otávio Caixeta highlighted the role of customizable audio technology for accessibility, such as the wide availability of audio description and its customizable position in the room, as well as the balance between dialogue and background sounds, which will allow many people with visual or hearing disabilities to access the broadcast.
They were also pleased to have the chance to demonstrate that MPEG-H audio can ensure a smooth transition from TV 2.5 to TV 3.0 as well as provide the most advanced personalization and accessibility options for the audience. Colleagues and partners in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia and Erlangen worked hard to plan the event and present the content and devices to the Ministry. This task became even more challenging with the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to everyone's efforts, the presentations were able to proceed as planned and were attended by several important personalities.
"We are very happy that the Ministry of Communications and the SBTVD Forum invited us to demonstrate the range and quality of the MPEG-H immersive and customizable sound technology. We believe we were able to provide a great impression of the technology's capabilities and strengthen its position for further integration into the Brazilian broadcast environment," said Adrian Murtaza, Senior Manager of Technology and Standards at Fraunhofer IIS.
More information at the Brazilian Ministry of Communications: