World Broadcasting Unions Endorse 1080-Line HDTV Common Image Format as Global Production Standard

The World Broadcasting Unions Technical Committee (WBU-TC) is the technical arm of the World Broadcasting Unions. This Union is composed of the World's eight Broadcasting Unions:

- Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU)
- Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU)
- Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU)
- European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
- International Association of Broadcasters (IAB)
- North American Broadcasters Association (NABA)
- Organisacion de Television lbero-Americana (OTI)
- Union des Radiodiffusions et Televisions Nationales d'Afrique (URTNA)

In 1997 and in 1998 the WBU-TC endorsed the unique High Definition Common Image Format (CIF) standard of 1080 lines by 1920 samples-per-line interlace and progressively scanned with a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9 at both 59 Hz and 60 Hertz field and frame rates for high definition program production and exchange. 'The Committee emphasized the importance of this unique CEF standard, based on the International Telecommunications Union (IM Recommendation BT- 709-3, Part If, as a worldwide standard for high definition television program production and exchange.

Today, the WBU-TC applauds the International Telecommunications Union Study Group II and its Working PartIIA for the decision to set the total line number of the CIF HDTV Recommendation BT-709-3, Part H to 1125 lines for both the 50 and 60 Hertz systems and for its further action to add the 24,25 and 30 frame Progressive scanning formats to the Recommendation, thereby completing the full CIF family of formats including those intended for film program production.

Prof. Mark Krivocheev, Chairman of ITU-R Study Group I I said, "This action to modify the ITU-Recommendation BT-709-3 represents a major achievement for world television ! For the first time in 50 years the world has a common program production and exchange standard, thereby improving television communications around the globe and setting the stage for the merging of digital television technologies with computing and communications technologies."

The WBU-TC recognizes that whilst several digital SDTV and HDTV transmission systems are planned for satellite, cable, and terrestrial transmission in various regions of the world, this unique HDTV production and program exchange standard will lead to easier and better HDTV program exchange, higher technical quality, lower HD equipment costs, and greater flexibility in the use of HD equipment. Moreover this CIF standard will accelerate the move to high definition television program production and exchange worldwide.

1 The HD - CIF is the "high definition common image format", which uses the same image sampling matrix in both 50 Hertz and 60 hertz high definition television systems. This HD-CRF is included in the hitemational Telecommunications Union Recommendations ITU-BT.709-3.

2 The International Teleconununications Union (ITU) Recommendation ITU-BT-709-3 states in part:

Considerinig:
That parameter values for HDTV production standards should have maximum commonalty;

That an active image format of 1920 pixels by 1080 lines provides square pixel sampling, with attendant advantages for interpretability between various applications including digital television and computer imagery;

Recommends:
That for new implementations, particularly where interoperability with other applications is important, systems described in Part 11 (of document ITU-BT-709-3) are preferred."

Part 11 describes the DTV system as:

1080/60/2:1: 1080/60/1:1; 1080/50/1:1; 1080/50/2:1; 1080/30/1:1; 1080/25/1:1; and 1080/24/1:1; with 1920 samples per active line at an aspect ratio of 16:9 and with a total line number of 1125


For further information, please contact:

Mr. Bill Roberts, Secretary General, NABA, at + 416-598-9877
Mr. Om Khushu, Vice chairman WBU-TC at +603-282-1984
Mr. David Wood, Secretary, WBU-TC, at +41-22-717-27-31 (EBU)
e-mail: woodgebu.ch

For general information on the EBU, please contact:
David Lewis, Press Attached, EBU, on +41 22 717 2032, e-mail: [email protected]