DVB Recognizes DTS Digital Surround Sound As Broadcast Option

27-Nov-02

DTS has announced that the DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) Project has provided a mechanism for carrying the DTSÆ Digital Surroundô sound format as part of its digital television (DTV) specifications. The DVB is a technical consortium of more than 300 companies that is establishing common international specifications for the move from analog to digital broadcasting around the world. Facilitating the inclusion of DTS Digital Surround within the DVB broadcasts offers greater options for surround sound quality for both broadcasters and consumers.As the globally recognized initiative for adopting new technologies for consumer benefit, the DVB responded to requirements from its members to provide the technical means of carrying the DTS multi-channel audio format in DVB transmissions. DTS Digital Surround technology gives broadcasters new scalable multi-channel audio solutions previously unavailable for broadcasting, including the ability to equal or exceed DVD-quality sound.""It's been a great experience working with the DVB over the past two years; they've been very supportive of DTS and our efforts in the broadcasting space,"" said Jon Kirchner, President and CEO of DTS. ""We look forward to actively participating in the DVB and the development of DTV worldwide.""""The DVB's goal is to present the best alternatives for broadcasters to easily adopt DTV,"" said Peter MacAvock, Executive Director, DVB Project Office. ""We believe that the inclusion of DTS as an option for audio in DVB will give broadcasters and viewers more choice and flexibility.""DTS coding within a DVB stream offers several advantages to broadcasters:Scalability: The core DTS specification and supporting broadcast hardware encoding platform allow broadcasters to choose whatever audio bandwidth they wish to transmit; typical discrete 5.1 transmissions can range from 384 kbps up to 1.5 Mbps. Therefore, broadcasters can allocate more audio transmission bandwidth, greater coding accuracy and higher quality sound for special events such as movie premieres, concerts, or flagship programs. Using higher bandwidth DTS audio compression techniques, it is possible to match or better the audio quality currently found on DVD material.Ease of implementation: The DTS proposal loads the MPEG-2 stream with Packetised Elemental Streams (PES) in a similar way to that utilized by AC-3ô. Any device supporting AC-3 can be readily used for DTS transmission, which means that a broadcaster does not require massive re-investment in infrastructure to support DTS transmissions.Compatibility with existing DTV delivery systems: A key advantage for DTV customers is that the DTS Digital Surround signal can be received and processed by a standard set top box with a digital audio output (such as the Sky+ box.) The upgrade required to recognize the DTS data stream can be made over the air from the broadcast head. The signal can then be fed to and decoded by an AV receiver equipped with a DTS decoder in the same manner as a DVD. Today, every major consumer electronics brand includes DTS decoding in its home theatre components.For more information about DVB, visit www.dvb.org. For more information about DTS, visit www.dtsonline.com.

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