TF1 taps Harmonic for Ultra HD

French commercial broadcaster TF1 has tapped video technology outfit Harmonic to deploy an Ultra HD contribution and distribution solution to broadcast live sports events, including the world’s largest football tournament and a premier motor racing championship.

TF1 will use Harmonic’s platform to deliver live UHD coverage of premium sports competitions directly to French service providers.

Harmonic said that its ViBE CP9000 HD/UHD contribution solution preserves video quality at the front of the broadcast chain, with the ability to process uncompressed UHD signals that are eight times more bandwidth-consuming than HD sources, to create high-quality compressed video, thus saving TF1 bandwidth capacity.

“We are gearing up to deliver one of the first live UHD transmissions via IPTV, a feat that can only be accomplished by partnering with a trusted technology provider,” said Hervé Pavard, CTO at TF1.

“Harmonic delivers the best video quality we’ve seen at maximum bandwidth efficiency, and we look forward to showing viewers how incredibly immersive sports events can be when experienced in UHD. We’re especially excited that Harmonic’s contribution and distribution solution supports HDR, and we expect to use it in the future to further enhance our live sports feeds.”

said Ian Graham, senior vice president of sales, EMEA and LATAM, at Harmonic, said: “To be effective, UHD video quality must be preserved throughout the entire workflow, from the contribution phase to the consumer’s display. Our UHD platform is designed to maintain sharpness and image quality during the entire production and delivery process.”