Pioneering European HDTV Service Exploits Benefits of Advanced MPEG-4 Audio Solution to Provide Surround Sound and Multilingual HDTV
Twyford UK, 12 January 2007 • DTS, Inc. (NASDAQ: DTSI): Pioneering HDTV service Euro1080 has announced that it will implement aacPlus/DTS multi-channel audio with its switch from MPEG-2 to higher quality MPEG-4 HD transmissions.
The broadcaster, which switched to the higher quality MPEG-4 transmissions across all of its channels on 2 January, will deliver aacPlus multi-channel audio to consumers as DTS Digital Surround, decoded in home theatre systems in the usual way, via the new aacPlus/DTS transcode; the transcode is incorporated in the new generation of MPEG-4 set top boxes for HDTV.
Commenting, Jacques Schepers, Technical Director at Euro1080, said, “Euro1080 has been the leading technical innovator in implementing European HD broadcast services. We have always been ahead of the rest of the industry, and first in the world to broadcast using the MPEG-4 standard. Now we are adopting MPEG-4 compression across all of our channels, we intend to incorporate the advantages inherent in the DTS/aacPlus broadcast solution in our service plan, going forward into 2007.
“In some countries we have a requirement to transmit the audio in more than one language. This was a major reason why we required a more efficient solution, than was currently available, for multi-channel audio to accompany MPEG-4 pictures.”
Until now, the barrier to broadcasters implementing the latest high efficiency aacPlus audio codec for multi-channel HDTV broadcasts, has been the lack of any means for consumers to decode the surround sound in the home. Working with Coding Technologies in Europe, DTS has enabled the ‘transcoding’ of that company’s advanced aacPlus MPEG-4 audio codec to DTS Digital Surround in the set-top box.
With the efficiency and audio quality of the aacPlus codec, consumers can now receive much more HDTV programming in high quality surround sound, allowing broadcasters to deliver more movies, more sports, more documentaries and more dramas in 5.1-channels than ever before. They can also provide programming with multiple language surround soundtracks, as on DVD releases. They can now do so with immediate access to the entire installed base of DTS-enabled home theater systems.
aacPlus employs a number of advanced open standard techniques developed by Coding Technologies. This creates significant bandwidth efficiencies, while maintaining or improving the perceived listening quality. This reduces transmission costs for broadcasters, allowing them to provide surround sound transmissions on a greater range of programming.
About Euro1080
Euro1080 plays a pioneering role in the field of HDTV in Europe and began transmitting on 1st January 2004. For a long time, Euro1080’s HD1 was the first and the only HDTV station to broadcast in Europe.
In 2005, the Belgium-based high definition media company launched two additional HDTV stations: HD2 and HD5. HD2, the “focused” channel, does not only broadcast exclusive concerts, sports and other special events to cinemas, theatres and households, but is also very well suited for B2B purposes. HD5 is a demo and instruction channel. In 2006, Euro1080 started with EXQI, the HD culture channels. www.euro1080.tv
About Coding Technologies
Coding Technologies provides the best audio compression for mobile, broadcasting, and Internet. SBR™ (Spectral Band Replication) from Coding Technologies is a backward and forward compatible method to enhance the efficiency of any audio codec; putting the "PRO" in mp3PRO and the "Plus" in aacPlus. Parametric Stereo from Coding Technologies and Philips again significantly increases the efficiency of audio codecs for stereo signals at low bit rates. Products from Coding Technologies are fundamental enablers of open standards such as 3GPP, 3GPP2, MPEG, DVB, Digital Radio Mondiale, HD Radio, and the DVD Forum.
Coding Technologies is a privately held company with offices in Sweden, Germany, China and the USA. Founded in 1997 in Stockholm, the company later merged with a spin-off of the renowned Fraunhofer Institute in Germany, the inventor of MP3. Coding Technologies’ customers include America Online, EMP, iBiquity Digital, KDDI, O2, Nokia, Orange, RealNetworks, SK Telecom, Sprint, T-Mobile, Thomson, Texas Instruments, Vodafone, and XM Satellite Radio. For more information, visit www.codingtechnologies.com or www.bothworlds.biz.
About DTS
DTS, Inc. (NASDAQ: DTSI) is a digital technology company dedicated to delivering the ultimate entertainment experience. DTS decoders are in virtually every major brand of 5.1-channel surround processor, and there are hundreds of millions of DTS-licensed consumer electronics products available worldwide. A pioneer in multi-channel audio, DTS technology is in home theatre, car audio, PC and game console products, as well as DVD-Video, Surround Music and DVD-ROM software. DTS audio products are featured on more than 27,000 motion picture screens worldwide. Additionally, DTS provides imaging technology and services for the motion picture industry; DTS Digital Images, formerly Lowry Digital Images, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DTS and an industry leader in image restoration and enhancement. Founded in 1993, DTS is headquartered in Agoura Hills, California and has offices in the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan and China. For further information, please visit www.dts.com.
