NHK propose new full HD 3D broadcast system

Having pioneered Super Hi-Vision, NHK Media Technology has unveiled a new 3D broadcasting format.

‘Advanced Stereo 3D’ can deliver full 1920 HD to each eye and regular full HD 2D pictures in the same signal for compatibility on existing sets. Currently, 3D broadcasting by channels such as 3net and Sky 3D, is transmitted as the side-by-side format where the television stretches out the left and right images resulting in resolution loss. ‘Advanced Stereo 3D’ transmits the left and right images in full HD independently.

It works by encoding the left channel in MPEG2-AD at 13Mbps and the right signal is encoded using the H.264-AVC standard at 7Mbps. This compares to the typical 20Mbps of the combined left and right signal of the side-by-side format.

Talking to , YasuaKi Nishida, Executive Engineer of Broadcast Engineering Department, NHK Media Technology, said “Korean broadcasters are investigating a similar format. The Korean format will likely be almost the same as our format so we think we should be able to support a compatible format and have it catch on in korea as well.”

Any broadcaster could use the system using NHK’s new encoder technology and the department has put it forward to the ARIB standards body. NHK are also working on a glasses free 3D system that will utilise 8K Super Hi-Vision technology. ‘Interval 3D’ will offer true look-around images but is not expected to be ready until after 2020.

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