International Research Park Returns to the 2012 NAB Show

The 2012 NAB Show (April 16-19, 2012) will once again feature the International Research Park (IRP), a reserved area of the NAB exhibit floor for showcasing media-related technology research activities from around the world. It has been well received by both exhibitors and attendees since its inception in 2010. At the 2012 show, the IRP will be further enhanced and expanded in its location at the East end of the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

IRP exhibitors at previous NAB Shows have included the Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA), the Canadian Communications Research Centre, Korea's Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), the Entertainment Technology Center of Carnegie Mellon University, the European Broadcast Union (EBU), Georgia Tech's School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the Internet Media Device Alliance (IMDA), NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation), the Japanese National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), NPR Labs, Rochester Institute of Technology, Ryerson University, Syncbak, and other R&D firms from around the world.

The IRP presents attendees with an opportunity to get an early view of media-related research projects that have not yet made their way to commercial availability. All appropriate organizations accepted into the IRP are provided with complimentary exhibit space by NAB.

Numerous organizations have already applied for space in the 2012 IRP, proposing the presentation of a wide range of exciting new technologies and research. Among these are autostereoscopic ("glasses-free") 3D display, high-dynamic range imaging, and other advanced television-related systems and services.

Some space is still available for the 2012 IRP. If you are aware of an organization that might qualify, please advise them to contact Skip Pizzi, NAB Technology's Director of Digital Strategies, at 202-429-5345, or spizzi@nab.org.

ATSC Inaugurates ATSC 3.0 Standards Process
Last Wednesday (November 30, 2011), ATSC's new Technology Group 3 (TG3) held its inaugural meeting at NAB headquarters in Washington, DC. The new group will develop standards and recommended practices for the next generation of digital television, an initiative that has been dubbed "ATSC 3.0." An overflow attendance of ATSC members and guests was on hand for the event, and the overall discussion stressed a forward-looking and open-minded view toward the future of digital television broadcasting.

The system to be developed by TG3 will not necessarily be backward compatible to the current ATSC system, leading some to refer to the process as "the second digital transition." There is no predetermined timeframe set for the completion of TG3's work, but a strong preference has been made for the new standard to consider technical, business, and regulatory matters with equal weight.

TG3 is chaired by Jim Kutzner, Senior Director of Advanced Technology at PBS. The group's Vice-chairs are Skip Pizzi (NAB) and Luke Fay (Sony).

The initial work of TG3 will focus on developing scenarios and use cases for the new system, with the aim of creating a set of requirements to target with a future standard. Exploration of options for the physical layer of a new transmission format will also be included in TG3's early efforts, along with outreach and liaison to other industry organizations and stakeholders worldwide.

All ATSC members are encouraged to join TG3 for its discussions toward the next generation of broadcast DTV. For further information, contact Mark Richer, ATSC President, at mricher@atsc.org.