SES and Samsung demonstrate world’s first DVB HDR Ultra HD broadcast

SES, Samsung and UK Broadcaster Demonstrate World’s First DVB Broadcast of High Dynamic Range Ultra HD (UHD) TV

• Demonstration of an Ultra HD TV transmission from an SES satellite at 19.2 degrees East using existing DVB UHD Phase 1 specifications and BBC Research & Development’s High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology directly to a Samsung SUHD TV
• BBC R&D’s Hybrid Gamma (HDR) technology enables simultaneous delivery of Standard Dynamic Range to existing UHD TVs and High Dynamic Range to new generation UHD TVs from the same content payload
• Samsung SUHD TVs represent the next generation of consumer display technology, fully equipped to receive the next generation of premium audio visual content
• The CAS-protected UHD TV transmission is received directly by the Samsung SUHD TV using a CI+ Module

LUXEMBOURG, LONDON & SEOUL, South Korea — SES S.A. (NYSE Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG) and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd announced today that they will be demonstrating the first DVB transmission of High Dynamic Range UHD TV at the annual SES Industry Days in Luxembourg 6th and 7th May 2015. The content will be transmitted via an SES satellite directly to a Samsung SUHDTV using the Hybrid Gamma (HDR) technology.

The demonstration marks a major milestone for the Ultra HD broadcast chain. Indeed, it demonstrates for the first time how industry can launch new High Dynamic Range UHD TV Services over DVB Broadcast Networks, which can fully exploit the capabilities of the next generation of consumer displays, while simultaneously providing high quality UHD TV Service to UHD Phase 1 Receivers already in the market.

“High Dynamic Range (HDR) will significantly enhance how consumers will experience television in the future,” said Thomas Wrede, Vice President, Reception Systems at SES. “An introduction of any HDR technology must be backwards compatible with existing DVB UHD 1 Phase 1 flat screen TVs that are already in consumers’ homes. SES and Samsung, with this transmission over the ASTRA satellite system, are demonstrating that this backwards compatibility is possible today.”

“Samsung is delighted to participate in this demonstration of a monumental step forward for the broadcast industry,” said John Adam, head of business development and industrial affairs at Samsung Research UK. “By delivering UHD TV services that can address the growing market of UHD Phase 1 TVs, while also providing the best experience to consumers who are investing in the next generation of TV, Samsung is ready to fully endorse the BBC Research & Development’s HDR technology as part of our overall drive towards the best consumer experience in UHD TV.”