For Euro 2016, Eutelsat and Rai have sided together for live broadcasts of the matches in Ultra HD, on tivùsat free satellite platform.
Everything was prepared at Eutelsat Paris-Rambouillet teleport where the heart of Rai technological infrastructure was installed for live broadcasts of the various matches of Euro 2016. Portugal against Poland was the kickstart. In effect that date signs an important initiative for Italian television that officially kicked off on June 30 at 21h with the first of the quarter-final match. Then, on 1, 2 and 3 July, followed the other three quarters finals; on 6 and 7 July, it was the turn of two matches of the semifinals.
In closing, the expected final, was played on July 10, again starting at 21 hours.
Everything was aired on Rai in 4K, on the new launched temporary channel numbering 210 within free tivùsat widespread satellite platform via Eutelsat – Hot Bird.
For these events Rai and Eutelsat chose DBW Communication to realize the customization of the 7 matches of UEFA EURO 2016 broadcast live in 4K UltraHD.
The goal was to give users unprecedented viewing experience, taking advantage of the extraordinary definition of Ultra HD images.
The project involves the entire group within Rai signed a strategic agreement with Eutelsat which made its resources available on Hot Bird satellite together with a series of ground services in collaboration with a pool of international technology companies, Rai, Rai Way, Eutelsat, tivùsat, Nagra, V-Nova, Perseus.
The final product was a dedicated program, made possible thanks to the shots taken by 14 Ultra HD cameras by Uefa as Host Broadcaster. This production structure has been reused on the occasion of all the seven final matches of Euro 2016.
The access to tivùsat and the viewing of Ultra HD is simple and no subscription is needed: we need a satellite dish oriented to HOT BIRD 13° East, a TV Ultra HD tivùsat compliant and a tivùsat HD CAM. Just activate the tivùsat HD smartcard included in the package of the CAM and tune to channel 210 of the platform.
In particular, the signal was delivered to Rai at the International Broadcasting Center and reached the Paris-Rambouillet teleport via fiber, thanks to the innovative Perseus coding made by V-Nova hardware. The composition of the program for Ultra HD airing took place on board the OB Vehicle provided by DBW Communication, which was located at the teleport.
Before the Uplink to Hot Bird the signal was encrypted using the Nagra coding system employed by tivùsat and packed with the new standard by HEVC encoders provided by Rai.
Here follows a small round of comments:
Valerio Zingarelli chief technology officer Rai: "Thanks to a group of companies led by Rai, this is a leap forward. Our direct contact with the audience and our creating contents requires us to use the best technology, as a forerunner to the technological innovation that gives more value to the content itself."
Luca Balestrieri tivùsat: "Innovation today is neved done it yourself, you have to create the team. Rai and Rai Way, Eutelsat, tivùsat, Nagra, V-Nova, and Perseus, have combined expertise to one big goal. "
Guido Meardi, CEO and Co-founder V-Nova: "We ensure that the quality seen on the football field is kept completely intact and in the transmission thanks to Perseus compression technology, not even an emotion perishes: either a pixel is out of place."
Giuliano Beretta President of DBW Communication: "We were the forerunners of 4K already recovering a football match as early as 2013."
Stefano Rebecchi AD DBW Communication: "One of our mobile units was sent to the teleport in Paris, Ramboulliet, carrying all devices that allowed us to customize the transmissions and make them suitable to the Italian public: Italian commentary, 4K graphics and we are particularly proud."
Renato Farina AD Eutelsat Italy: "For me this is really the kick-off of the television of the future."
