Fraunhofer IIS showcased the benefits of MPEG-H Audio as part of the innovative TV 3.0 standard during G20 Digital Economy Work Group meeting in São Luís, Maranhão on June 11, 2024. The audio system was also presented during a workshop on broadcast and streaming applications at Brazil’s Ministry of Communications earlier that year.
The demonstration introduced attendees, including ministry representatives and the Governor of Maranhão, Carlos Brandão, to the innovative capabilities of the new TV 3.0 broadcast ecosystem, which included a demonstration of the Fraunhofer MPEG-H Audio system. Participants explored its interactivity options, including accessibility features such as dialogue enhancement. Choosing an audio standard with a strong focus on personalization and, through it, accessibility options, solidifies Brazil’s commitment to an inclusive and advanced television experience. Emphasizing the importance of TV 3.0 for the Brazilian broadcasting landscape, the minister said “This is one of the most anticipated revolutions in the sector, even more significant than the transition from analog to digital. This is the future of TV in Brazil.”
MPEG-H Audio is a Next Generation Audio technology providing unique personalization features in addition to an immersive audio experience. It delivers great flexibility to content creators and broadcasters, who can now be even closer to their audiences and deliver made-to-measure experiences for everyone, while streamlining their workflows at the same time. Audiences can actively engage with the content and adapt it to their own preferences and needs in the framework defined by the providers.
Earlier this year, Brazil’s Ministry of Communications (MCom) and the Secretariat of Social Communications (SeCom) held a workshop in Brasilia focusing on TV 3.0 broadcast and streaming applications, featuring MPEG-H Audio as the sole mandatory audio system. They also announced the “TV 3.0 a TV do futuro!” campaign during the workshop on April 3rd and 4th, and assured industry and policy participants of the government’s support in securing the investments necessary for the system upgrade. The Ministry of Communications is planning to support the effort to have TV 3.0 pilot broadcast stations on air in 2025 as well as the start of commercial broadcast in the following year.
The second half of 2024 will see manufacturers of TVs and set-top boxes releasing more products that support MPEG-H Audio for the existing ISDB-T broadcast system, facilitating a smooth rollout of the new standard and having a head-start on this predictably active market as well as for potential system innovations in other countries.
This year, TV 3.0 and with it the Fraunhofer IIS system MPEG-H Audio, will be showcased at several high-profile events to interested parties in the industry, politics, and public to discover its advantages. One of them is SET Expo, where Fraunhofer will present the capabilities of the system as well as the latest integrations into devices available on the market.
