IBC: Tektronix widens color and dynamic range monitoring and testing in IP/SDI

[donaldk]

Tektronix, an household name in video test and monitoring equipment, is presenting a field-installable software upgrade for its popular WFM/WVR 8000 series of waveform monitors and rasterizers, adding new support for monitoring High Dynamic Range (HDR) and ITU-R Recommendation BT.2020 Wide Color Gamut (WCG) formats. The upgrades, which will be demonstrated at the upcoming 2016 IBC exhibition in Amsterdam, September 8-13, assist camera operators, editors and colorists in easily and accurately capturing and reproducing highly realistic video image content that ultimately enhances consumers' viewing experience. The update will be available in the fourth quarter of this year.

HDR/WCG formats are gaining new importance when it comes to acquiring high resolution 4K content. However, according to Tektronix, it can be challenging to adjust gamma levels for correct processing of high fidelity signals throughout the broadcast chain. A series of new graticules included with the HDR upgrade allow users to correctly set camera white points and adjust specular highlights to fully use the dynamic range of their content.

"Tektronix continues to expand the capabilities of the industry's most comprehensive waveform monitors and rasterizers while protecting our customers' investments in video monitoring equipment," said Charlie Dunn, general manager, Video Product Line, Tektronix. "Easy to learn and easy to operate, the new HDR features give our customers the monitoring capabilities they need to capture and deliver stunning visual content to their audiences."

Also on show will be Tek's Prism media analysis solution in mixed IP-SDI infrastructures. And the SPG8000A master sync and PTP grandmaster clock generator that may form the heart of any SDI baseband or IP or mixed production and broadcast infrastructure.

[donaldk]

So the Olympic Host boadcaster is using the Tektronix master sync generator and master clock for its live IP media production of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Tek said this represents the first use of IP for live production on this scale in Latin America.

Grupo Globo's Globosat, Pay-TV division that also operates Globo's global Over-The-Top subscription streaming service Globo Play and Globosat Play, is producing the worldwide content for the 2016 Olympics, deploying 16 linear channels by satellite, and the same 16 produced channels for internet distribution, accompanied by 40 channels of audio ambience, only available online.

At the center of this massive network infrastructure will be two Tektronix SPG8000A master sync and PTP grandmaster clock generators that offer support for both traditional SDI-based and IP-based media infrastructures. Alongside these instruments will be two Prism IP/SDI media analyzers that offer the unique ability to diagnose and correlate both SDI and IP signal types.

"The move to an all IP-based infrastructure will continue beyond the Olympic Games. However, we also wanted to take full advantage of IP networking technology for this very important event," said Lourenço Carvano, engineering director of Globosat. "With the help of Tektronix, we are confident in our ability to support a hybrid SDI/IP environment, helping us to both lower costs and deliver a higher quality broadcast to our audience."

"Producing the Olympic Games using an IP-based infrastructure is a highly ambitious effort.  We have had the opportunity to work with Globosat in other major events such as the 2014 FIFA World Cup and they are clearly committed to ensuring their coverage is as pristine and picture-perfect as possible for viewers," said Charlie Dunn, general manager, Video Product Line, Tektronix. "By offering solutions designed to support hybrid IP/SDI environments, we are enabling Globosat to take advantage of the latest IP technologies while optimizing the quality of the broadcast feeds coming from the Games for viewers around the world."