DirecTV Now Using MPEG-4 Technology
Posted by Sachin Garg on 25th November 2005 | Permanent Link
TMCnet: Although the move to MPEG-4 will make no difference, in terms of picture quality, to DirecTV’s customers, it makes a huge difference to the company because MPEG-4 signals eat up far less bandwidth. While a single MPEG-2 HD stream takes up the space of six standard-definition TV channels, MPEG-4 is at least twice as efficient, taking up the equivalent of three channels or less.
Next year, the company plans to launch more MPEG-4 HDTV signals in more markets, culminating in 2007, when it plans to offer 1,500 local and 150 national channels in the format on four new satellites.
In Detroit, DirecTV’s first market, the company is taking the MPEG-2 HD feeds of the ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox affiliates, digitizing and encrypting their signals, then transporting them via its national fiber backbone to its uplink facility in California. Using encoders from Tandberg Television, the signals are converted to MPEG-4, then sent out via one of DirecTVs Ka-band satellites.
November 28th, 2005 at 8:57 am
Excellent and accurate capture of this important event. My company is providing the ASI networking platform DIRECTV will be using for HD content backhaul.
DIRECTV is building a world class content aquisition and backhaul network for their HD service launch and we’re proud to be an important component (I do not work for Tandberg!)
November 28th, 2005 at 12:32 pm
I wonder why you didn’t named your organization. Anyway, thanks for the additional information.
December 11th, 2005 at 11:43 pm
Reduction in bandwidth of broadcasting singals i believe will bring in more interactive features to the cutomers. this should be great news
December 13th, 2005 at 6:43 pm
Hi Sachin,
I can’t mention my company name yet as we’re in discussions with DIRECTV for a press release. We are a well known MPEG compression and networking company created within AT&T Bell Labs.
As for Trinity’s comment on interactivity, I don’t believe that is the goal here. It’s all about satellite transponder efficiency and MPEG4 does provide comparable picture quality at half the bandwidth of MPEG2.
December 14th, 2005 at 11:17 pm
Thatz understandable, but do drop by again whenever you guys get the press release done :-)