The first channel to broadcast in 4K TV is La1 UHD, and, little by little, more will be added in 2025. This is made possible by the H.265 standard, also known as H.265 or HEVC.
In the world of television and video, there is a language that all devices must understand in order to communicate: codecs. These are like translators that allow your TV, your mobile phone, or your computer to interpret the video and audio signals they receive.
One of the most important and promising codecs of the moment is H.265, also known as HEVC.
It is a video compression standard that promises to completely change the way we watch TV and consume multimedia content online. Its main advantage is that it offers higher efficiency than previous codecs, which means that it can stream high-quality video (such as 4K) with lower bandwidth.
This codec will allow channels to transmit content in 4K without the need to take up much space in the radio spectrum. In Christian, this means better image quality and greater efficiency in the use of resources.
What is H.265/HEVC, and how does it work?
H.265, also known as HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding), is a video compression standard that has become the natural successor to the famous H.264/AVC. This codec has been designed for greater efficiency in video encoding, which means that you can stream high-quality content with a smaller file size or bandwidth.
Simply put, H.265/HEVC is like a Tetris expert that can cram more information into less space. Think of it as a ZIP for videos. It takes the 4K image—which takes up a lot—and compresses it in half without it being noticeable. Thus, the 4K signal fits in the same ‘hole’ that HD used before.
To clarify that H.265/HEVC is not only for television. It is also used for different devices and platforms, such as smartphones, tablets, computers, camcorders, online streaming services, and Blu-ray discs.
What does this standard have to do with 4K?
Imagine that 4K is an elephant and H.265 is a suitcase. The problem is obvious: an elephant does not fit. But with the H.265, that elephant ‘compresses’ and goes in seamlessly, maintaining its actual size when you take it out.
Here’s how it works: H.265/HEVC is the codec that allows you to fit 4K videos (which are huge) into smaller spaces without losing quality. In this case, 4K has 4 times more pixels than Full HD.
That means a 4K video takes up 4 times more space. If you were to use the old codec (H.264), a chapter of your series in 4K would weigh so much that it would take hours to download it. The H.265 compresses it in half without it being noticeable.
As for how this affects DTT and streaming, thanks to H.265, TV channels can broadcast 4K without saturating the antennas, and platforms such as Netflix or YouTube send you 4K without your internet collapsing. Before, you’d need an ultra-fast connection; now, with the H.265, a decent connection is enough, like the ones now.
Add to all this that if the content you watch is not 4K, a rescaling will be used. That is, an HD image (1080p) is ‘stretched’ to appear to be 4K (filling pixels). The problem is that it is not as sharp as a real 4K, but it improves the image on good TVs.
DVB-T2 and H.265/HEVC working together for the future of DTT
For television to be able to offer high-quality images like 4K, two important things are needed: a system that can transmit a lot of information over the air and an efficient way to compress those videos so that they do not take up too much space. This is where DVB-T2 and H.265/HEVC come into play.
DVB-T2 is the standard that improves the way the TV signal is sent. Think of it as a wider, faster highway where TV data travels. Thanks to this improved highway, much more information can be sent without saturating the frequencies used by the antennas.
On the other hand, H.265/HEVC is responsible for compressing the videos. When you put these two technologies together, the TV can stream 4K images seamlessly. The chains compress the video with H.265 and then send it using DVB-T2. Your antenna picks up that signal, and your TV, if compatible, decodes it to show you the image in high definition.
In short, DVB-T2 is the ‘how’ the signal is transmitted, and H.265 is the ‘what’ is transmitted (ultra-compressed videos). Without both, 4K in DTT would be impossible.
What do you need to watch H.265/HEVC on DTT?
- A compatible TV: Not all TVs support this standard. If your TV is old, you may need to buy a new one that supports this codec.
- An external set-top box (optional): If your TV doesn’t support H.265/HEVC, you can purchase an external set-top box that connects to your TV and can decode the signal.
- A good antenna: to receive the DTT signal in 4K, you need an antenna that is capable of picking up the signal correctly.
- A decent connection: While H.265/HEVC is more efficient, streaming content in 4K still requires considerable bandwidth. Make sure you have a fast and stable internet connection if you’re going to watch 4K content through streaming services.
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