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ITU has won the Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy Award for the development of a radiocommunication standard for High Dynamic Range Television (HDR-TV).
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The award, given by the Television Academy, recognizes the groundbreaking work done by engineers and other experts within ITU Radiocommunication Study Group 6 to develop a global HDR-TV standard that provides viewers with an enhanced visual experience.
This is the third Emmy Award received by ITU Radiocommunication Study Groups.
“ITU’s latest Emmy Award highlights the colour and vision that ITU brings to our everyday lives,” said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. “This award is the product of the strong collaboration between ITU, member states and our members in the private sector and academia that enhances global technology standards and practices, elevating digital technology quality and accessibility worldwide.”
Recommendation ITU-R BT.2100 was released in 2016. The standard centres around image parameter values for high dynamic range television for use in production and international program exchange.
The standard enables the reproduction of a wider and more accurate range of colours resulting in more vibrant and true-to-life colours and video images.
The application of the standard specifications significantly enhances viewer experience by making bright parts of the image much brighter and more detailed. It also improves the visibility of details in darker areas of the image.
The HDR-TV standard ensures that content creators, broadcasters, and manufacturers follow specific guidelines to deliver a consistent and improved viewing experience to consumers.
“Receiving the Technology and Engineering Emmy Award again is a testament to the remarkable innovation, collaboration and relentless pursuit of excellence within ITU Study Groups,” said Mario Maniewicz, Director of ITU’s Radiocommunication Bureau. “I thank all the ITU-R Study Group 6 experts who have worked to develop the standard on HDR-TV. This global recognition of your work is a call to continue our journey of discovery and innovation to develop innovative technology and engineering solutions.”
In its announcement, the Television Academy stated that the influence of the HDR-TV standard extends across the television industry, “from cameras, post-production (especially in colour processing), delivery though traditional broadcasting, OTT (over-the-top) streaming services, and both professional and consumer display/television products.”
The Television Academy further recognised the pivotal role the radiocommunication standard played in facilitating the widespread accessibility and consumer appreciation of HDR-TV.
Chairman of ITU-R Study Group 6 Yukihiro Nishida said, “Since it was published, Recommendation ITU-R BT.2100 on High Dynamic Range TV has had a major impact on the television industry. Audiences can now enjoy a far more realistic and engaging experience by watching HDR content. This is a great achievement of ITU-R Study Group 6.”
Two previous awards received by ITU’s Radiocommunication Bureau include the Technology and Engineering Emmy Award for standardizing Loudness Metering in Broadcast Audio in 2012. In 1983, the CCIR (now ITU-R) received the Emmy Award for establishing a common world standard for digital television studios.
The 2023 Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy Award brings to six the total number of Emmy Awards received by ITU.
