LAS VEGAS�The NAB Show�s Futures Park exhibition area is presenting a wide variety of ATSC 3.0-related demos � most shown for the first time anywhere � including live transmissions using the emerging next-gen DTV standard. The Futures Park (formerly NAB Labs Futures Park) is a special section of the NAB Show exhibit hall reserved for presentations of media-related research and development projects from around the world.
This year the exhibition features a new location in the South Upper Hall, and a significantly increased number of exhibits over previous years. Exhibits in the Futures Park represent current edge-of-the-art media technologies from government, academic and commercial research and development facilities. Organizations are selected by the National Association of Broadcasters based on their exhibits� relevance and interest to broadcasters.
Sam Matheny
�We are thrilled at both the quantity and quality of this year�s Futures Park exhibits,� said Sam Matheny, executive vice president and chief technology officer of NAB. �The sheer number of exhibits devoted to ATSC 3.0, even at this early stage, indicates the keen interest from around the world in this new TV standard. PILOT is proud to be offering a venue for first looks at so much development on ATSC 3.0 and other emerging technologies that will dramatically benefit broadcasting�s future.� PILOT, formerly NAB Labs, is a coalition of innovators, educators and advocates dedicated to advancing broadcast technology and cultivating new media opportunities.
A special new area within Futures Park is the ATSC 3.0 Broadcast Pavilion, where some 15 companies are demonstrating a variety of prototype equipment implementing various portions of the ATSC 3.0 standard. Live content for the ATSC 3.0 demonstration broadcasts originates in another Futures Park booth, the ATSC 3.0 Studio. NAB�s own PILOT booth is showing a prototype ATSC 3.0 receiver/gateway, with content demonstrations showing multiview, on-demand, interactive, targeted advertising and advanced emergency alerting applications, all made possible by the new format.
Another key exhibit at Futures Park is the Korea UHD On-Air consortium, composed of Korean broadcasters, equipment manufacturers, researchers and government agencies. The consortium is demonstrating work done to date toward the planned 2017 launch of regular terrestrial UHDTV service in Korea, which will be the world�s first deployment of ATSC 3.0 broadcasting.
A perennial favorite exhibit of the Super HiVision (SHV) format from NHK that provides 8K video and 22.2-channel sound also features new elements this year, including 8K laser projection, high-dynamic range and wide color-gamut 8K images, an 8K remote production truck, and new 8K content � including highlights from Super Bowl 50 � to be presented in the exhibit�s 100-seat SHV theater.
Related work and demonstrations are being presented by the Ultra HD Forum, which just released its highly anticipated Ultra HD Forum Guidelines, and the 4EVER-2 Project, which is presenting results of its work in Europe on UHDTV transmission of prestigious events.
Elsewhere in Futures Park, exhibitors feature their research and development work on a range of topics, including virtual reality, next generation audio, interoperable file-based workflows, gigabit throughput on coax cable, new and efficient modulation techniques, advanced post-production tools, new sensor techniques, globally interoperable interactive TV, management of multiple live content streams generated by professional and user-generated sources at live events, HDR video production tools, multiscreen application development
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