HDR and IMF on the agenda at Sky-hosted SMPTE meeting

SMPTE has more than 100 Technology Committees and other groups working by remote on a range of technical topics to create, approve, revise and remove industry standards.

Every quarter, the Technology Committees meet to report on progress and move forward with standards work.

They will meet at Sky on 20-23 September following IBC2017.

“The last time SMPTE standards were debated in the UK, industry pioneer John Logie Baird, the first pioneer of television, was still an active member of the Society,” said Former SMPTE UK Chair and Chief Engineer, Broadcast Strategy at Sky UK Chris Johns.

“This is a big event for us, and we’re honoured to act as host. Almost every technical area of our state-of-the art-facility here at Sky depends on SMPTE standards, so it’s nice to give a little bit back to the Society that has standardised the technologies that make us successful.”

At these SMPTE Technology Committee meetings, those working in standards from all over the world debate and discuss tomorrow’s standards.

Standards under discussion range from dynamic range management in high-dynamic-range (HDR video through internet protocol (IP) standards for professional television production to file structures such as the Interoperable Master Format (IMF) that are changing the way content is distributed globally.

SMPTE UK Regional Governor Bruce Devlin added: “At a time when media technology is looking shiny and bright with exciting changes appearing in the areas of UHD, internet video transport and advanced multichannel versioning with new consumer distribution models, the new Sky Central campus building is the perfect venue for SMPTE Technology Committee meetings.

“We’re grateful to Sky for hosting the event and for opening the doors of its innovative new facilities to SMPTE members.”