Czech Republic trials DVB-T2 with HEVC compression

České Radiokomunikace (ČRa) has announced the start of a trial of DVB-T2 digital terrestrial television transmission using High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) compression. The trial uses the Žižkov transmitter in Prague.

According to the company, the use of HEVC allows ten high definition (HD) or three Ultra HD channels to be broadcast in each DVB-T2 multiplex. Alternatively up to 40 channels of standard definition could be transmitted compared with the eight that can be accommodated using MPEG-2 compression.

ČRa is in negotiation with the Czech Telecommunication Office (ČTÚ) regarding a start date for the introduction of the new technology.

The trial is being run in cooperation with Czech Television, which is providing Ultra HD content, and Sony Corporation which has supplied 4K television receivers.