The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has issued new guidelines on the exchange of UHD/HDR programmes for both live and pre-recorded content.
The main changes for the live recommendation include the reference to the single-master HDR production workflow, as described in EBU Technical Report 070, the use of eight audio channels for channel-based audio production, and reference to EBU-TT/IMSC instead of EBU STL if subtitling is provided, said the EBU. The updated recommendations for live content are available here (EBU R 153).
The file–based exchange parameters now recommend the use of XAVC MXF (or IMF where multiple versions are required), and the use of EBU-TT-D (EBU Tech 3380) for any subtitling, added the EBU. The updated parameters are available here (EBU R 154).
Readability of the audio section has been improved by clearly outlining two options:
- Conventional audio
- Metadata-guided audio
The updated recommendations aim to facilitate content exchange between EBU members, other broadcasters, service providers and production companies, said the EBU. The guidance is meant as a ‘safe starting point’, for use when no other agreements between two parties for UHDTV programme exchange are in place.