IBC 2016: the Vatican broadcasts first ever worldwide Ultra HD/HDR satellite transmission

Acclaim by the international technological community for the initiative of the Secretariat for Communication conducted by CTV in collaboration with Eutelsat, DBW Communication, Globecast and Sony 

Great interest was shown at the IBC 2016 in progress in Amsterdam, in the presentation of the case history on the first ever live worldwide Ultra HD/HDR transmission of the ceremony of the opening of the Holy Door in the Vatican on 8 December 2015.

In the prestigious setting of the session on technological conferences held during the IBC, Cristiano Benzi from Eutelsat delineated the operational details of the initiative promoted by the Secretariat for Communication and conducted by the Vatican Television Center in collaboration with a pool of companies consisting of Eutelsat, Globecast, DBW Communication and Sony.

In the foreground the technical capability displayed in transmitting of an event that, among other things, enabled the successful testing of HDR production and transmission, in despite the fact that at the time the international standard had not yet been ratified. The ability to overcome the issues related to availability on the market of products necessary to shoot and broadcast live in Ultra HD was also underscored.

To relive the experience the attendees were presented with a brief excerpt from ‘Behind-the-scenes’, an experimental report filmed in Ultra HD-4K/HDR and produced by the Vatican institutions together with HD Forum Italia, an audiovisual industry association. The film revolves around the backstage activities surrounding the ceremony held last December with the inclusion of images filmed in the past using different technologies.