Dolby Digital Plus Unveiled At NAB; New Expanded Version Of Dolby Digital Confirmed As Candidate Standard By ATSC

20-Apr-04

Dolby Laboratories announced today at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show its Dolby Digital Plus technology, an enhancement of traditional Dolby Digital, designed to accompany future video broadcasting formats. On April 2, the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) elevated Dolby Digital Plus (Enhanced AC-3) to Candidate Standard status as part of its work on next-generation broadcast and trans-port systems. Dolby Digital Plus expands the capability of Dolby Digital technology, while maintaining compatibility with existing home theater systems. Future next-generation video coding systems, such as H.264, extend efficiencies in transmission to allow broadcasters to deliver increased capability and increased capacity in the same spectrum they are using today. Dolby Digital Plus is designed to meet the four major qualifications of a next-generation broadcast audio codec: backward compatibility, spectral efficiency, and cost savings, as well as compatibility with future formats:Backward Compatibility: Set-top boxes with Dolby Digital Plus will work with the over 37 million Dolby Digital 5.1 systems in use by viewers today. Broadcasters will want to take advantage of this extensive installed base.Spectral Efficiency: Dolby Digital Plus is even more efficient than the original Dolby Digital and maintains an extremely high quality while reducing the size of the overall program package. Broadcasters will want an audio coding system that complements the improved efficiency of the new video coding systems.Cost Savings: Broadcasters looking at next-generation systems are presented with a variety of options that seem to require a choice between new features and backward-compatibility. Dolby Digital Plus is less complex and requires fewer changes to the existing infrastructure than other codecs, making it the more economical selection.Future Compatibility: Advancements in video coding and in the storage capabilities of optical and hard disk drive (HDD) media pave the way for the success of new high-definition packaged media. Dolby Digital Plus is a candidate for such high-definition packaged media formats, making it an excellent choice for broadcasters wishing to be aligned with these new formats while maintaining compatibility with decoding systems that will play them. ìOne of the reasons that Enhanced AC-3 (Dolby Digital Plus) was chosen was because of its compatibility characteristics with the current population of consumer devices. This new technology will provide the industry with expanded audio capabilities that can be used for broadcast, cable, satellite, and DVD applications,î said ATSC President Mark S. Richer. ìWith this decision, the ATSC continues to evolve its standards to meet marketplace requirements.îìDolby Digital continues to be the format of choice for the delivery of multichannel surround sound to consumers. With nearly half a billion products sold that incorporate Dolby Digital, more consumers than ever can enjoy a theatre-like experience in their homes,î said Tom Daily, Director of Marketing, Professional Audio, Dolby Laboratories. ìDolby is committed to expanding the audience for the studios and broadcasters that count on Dolby Digital to deliver their programs.îFor more information about Dolby Laboratories or Dolby technologies, please visit www.dolby.com.

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