What we're doing at IBC 2015

Here's a complete guide to the innovations we're demoing and the papers we're presenting at IBC 2015.

Download leaflets (PDF):

• Plan for the future, not the present: IP Studio, Venue Explorer, Responsive Subtitles, BBC Taster
• THIRA: Enabling technologies for high resolution content interchange and delivery
• halfRF for UHD Radiocameras: Delivering a rugged 130Mb/s using 20MHz of spectrum at 7GHz

Ready, steady, gooooooooooo!!! IBC 2015 here we come!

As always IBC will mark the arrival of another tranche of technical innovations set to influence the direction of broadcast technology. For many years, we at BBC R&D have considered the event a first port of call to showcase our latest inventions, present our most recent technical papers and, if we’re lucky, pick up an award or two.

This year we are lucky enough to have our own stand and also have presence on a number of our partners’ exhibition booths.

BBC R&D’s stand will be in the Future Zone (Hall 8), stand number 8.G08. Our theme is related to the work we’re doing that focuses on inventing new forms of content and new ways to deliver them via IP, with these new forms of content built to object-based media principles. Here is a taste of the four projects/demos visitors will be able to engage with:

IP Studio Immersive Tour – IP Studio is central to the realisation of BBC R&D's ambitions, and is the backbone to enable new audience experiences. Stand visitors can experience the IP Studio without leaving the RAI.

Venue Explorer – Our new application enables audiences to explore content in greater depth than is possible today. Stand visitors can explore 'as live' footage from arts and music events, with data overlays on zoomable 4k video.

Responsive Subtitles – Our system for responsive subtitles personalises subtitle display to the individual requirements of subtitle users and their chosen device.

BBC Taster – Discover the public-facing audience testing platform developed by BBC R&D's Connected Studio. The demo will showcase some of the current pilots on the innovation platform.

It’s part of our DNA to collaborate with partners to progress media innovation for the benefit of industry and audiences. Our presence on partner stands during IBC is a very physical illustration of this collaborative spirit. In 2015 BBC R&D teams will also be speaking to visitors on the DVB, EBU and Videosys stands.

In Hall 1, we will be demonstrating Companion Screen Synchronisation with Dolby on the DVB booth (1.D.81). While over in Hall 10 (10.F20) we will working alongside our colleagues at the EBU to showcase UHD video compression, UHD/High Dynamic Range, Hybrid Radio and Cross Platform Authentication. Down the aisle in Hall 10 (10.F45), BBC R&D and Videosys will demonstrate BBC R&D’s UHD wireless camera system, the world’s first truly UHD radio camera.

We have a significant presence in terms of our paper presentations this year. In July we were delighted to find out that Andrew Cotton and Tim Borer’s paper titled "Display Independent High Dynamic Range Television System", which will be presented on Friday 11 September, has won the award for best conference paper. Our other eight equally noteworthy papers cover subjects as diverse as 4G broadcast, future models for live event broadcasting, the diverse needs of subtitle users in a rapidly evolving media landscape, subtitle display rate, coexistence between 4G and DTT, changes in the spectrum landscape and context-based hybrid content radio. On this occasion most of the papers were written solely by researchers in BBC R&D but true to form we have also collaborated with experts from amongst others – Arqiva, Rai, IRT, Sony and NPO to produce those related to changes in the spectrum landscape, the coexistence between 4G and DTT and context-based hybrid radio.

IBC 2015 is also a big year for our IP Studio associated collaborations. We can’t say too much now but look out for an announcement from the Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA) at 5pm on Friday 11 September.

Finally, although he is no longer controller of BBC R&D, Matthew Postgate – now the BBC’s CTO – will be talking about IP Studio in his address as part of the CTO session on Saturday 12 September in the Forum.

There is a lot going on and we hope to meet as many of you there as possible. Watch out for update tweets from @BBCRD.

Bon voyage!