HEVC in FocusThe next wave in video

WHAT IS HEVC?High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) is the latest standard aimed at dramatically improving the compression efficiency of video streams for resolutions from Mobile to Ultra-HD. It has been jointly developed by the ISO/IEC Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) and the ITU-T Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG), the same groups that previously developed H.222/262/MPEG-2 and H.264/MPEG-4 AVC. It’s formal name is ISO/IEC 23008-2 MPEG-H Part 2 and ITU-T H.265.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HEVC?HEVC has significantly more tools to achieve higher compression ratios than it’s predecessors, it’s key benefit is bandwidth reduction, targeting a 50% reduction in bit rate versus today’s MPEG-4 AVC benchmark at comparable video quality when fully developed. In applications where minimizing video bandwidth per stream is not the highest priority, HEVC can be used to significantly improve video quality at the same bit rate as its predecessors. In either case, HEVC meaningfully reduces the cost of delivering video versus all other methods, achieving quick pay-back from deployment due to reduced OPEX and CAPEX.

HOW DOES IT WORK?HEVC can implement a more complex coding scheme than it’s predecessors and has been specifically optimized to run on parallel processor architectures. Simplistically, HEVC achieves higher efficiency over predecessor MPEG standards, using H.264/MPEG-4 AVC as a starting point, but with new toolset options and increased capability to vary block size according to the content to better manage bit rate allocation over the complete picture. Of course there’s more to it than that, but that’s the core concept.

The HEVC Quest: lower bandwidth, higher quality.

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HOW WILL HEVC BE USED?Ultimately, the efficiencies of HEVC mean that it will be used throughout video delivery infrastructures. However, this will not happen overnight. Like MPEG-4 AVC, we expect to see a multi-year path driven by pragmatic deployments where implementation is simpler, economics are most compelling, or bandwidth availability drives fundamental service attributes. Within 2013, initial deployments will focus on OTT/Multiscreen applications where bandwidth is often restricted and the infrastructure is more flexible as end-points can be software-updated to decode HEVC. Linear TV deployments will also begin with IPTV/OTT applications followed by distribution and contribution in 2014. Typical set-top boxes are non-HEVC compatible in hardware and must be changed for support.

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Harmonic has announced support for HEVC within its market-leading ProMedia solution. ProMedia Live supports live streaming from Mobile to HD for real-time video to software clients on smartphones, tablets, computers, gaming and streaming-player consoles. This capability will be extended to allow ProMedia to support resolutions up-to and including Ultra HD. Promedia Xpress brings Harmonic’s quality/performance leadership to file transcoding by adding HEVC and allowing efficient handling of all types of content, including Ultra HD for on-demand streaming, again to software decode clients.

Sports drive demand for better video quality.

SUPPORT FROM MOBILE TO ULTRA HD TODAY

WHO IS THE LEADER IN HEVC?Harmonic. There are lots of press releases and science projects in this space, but only Harmonic has both demonstrated the technology and delivered the specific product roadmap to enable it’s customers to predictably leverage this exciting technology for service differentiation. With a track record of delivering technology that’s ready for service in scale, Harmonic is the ideal partner in HEVC.

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WHY HARMONIC?The world’s leading broadcasters trust Harmonic because we’re there for them over the long haul. Harmonic is the largest pure-play video delivery infrastructure company. We’re the best of the big; low risk, scale, momentum, resources to deliver on our promises, without the downside of being too big to listen or move fast. We’re the best of the small; agile, innovative, attentive, with laser-like focus on our customers, without the downsides of instability, limited resources or limited scope.

GLOBAL SERVICESHarmonic is a partner to its customers worldwide and delivers its solutions with comprehensive service and support programs, including system design, service deployment, technical support, and a wide array of professional services. With world-class service plans, a global network of local support professionals, and over 1,800 customers on six continents in 110 countries, Harmonic provides a flexible and responsive team that our customers rely on to maintain video infrastructures at every level of complexity. Everything we make is backed globally by 24/7/365 services and expertise that’s second to none

Harmonic’s industry-wide reputation for service and support excellence is based on our dedication to providing an outstanding level of service. By being there for our customers at every stage from ideation to ongoing maintenance of their facilities, we’re regarded as a trusted partner to many of the world’s leading media companies—helping them to create, deploy, deliver, and maintain their critical video system infrastructures.

PARTNERSHarmonic maintains a network of expert technology and integration partners globally to maximize the flexibility and availability of solutions available to customers. For more information visit www.harmonicinc.com

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