A new approach to the international standardization of Digital Cinema
M. I. Krivocheev (NIIR), V. A. Khleborodov (TKT)
Long-term practice of developing television-broadcasting services testifies that Recommendations and Standards issued by of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) guarantee quality and compatibility of new audiovisual systems. Within the ITU, the standardization of Digital Cinema (D-cinema) is delegated to Study Group 6, namely to Task Group 6/9 chaired by the CBS Senior Vice President Dr. J. A. Flaherty, proposed for this post by the North American Broadcasters Association (NABA).
According to the TG 6/9 definition, "the Digital cinema is a new service utilizing advanced television technology designed to emulate the cinema experience by means of electronic delivery of programs for collective viewing on screens of cinema-like size in a cinema-like environment". The goal of D-cinema is to equal or exceed the end-to-end performance of the 35mm cinema film system. The work of the TG is based on three fundamental ITU Recommendations: BT.709 "Parameter values for the HDTV standards for production and the international program exchange", BR.1220 "Requirements for the generation, recording and presentation of HDTV programs intended for release in the "electronic cinema", and BT.1201 "Extremely high resolution imagery".
Recommendation ВТ.709-3 (ТКТ № 9, 1999) provides for a number of standards, the 1080/24/1:1 standard is recommended for D-cinema. Major broadcast companies of the world, leading Internet and entertainment industry companies, and manufacturers of the equipment have unanimously supported this fundamental document. The impact of the new international standard for film-and-video production on theatrical release might be really revolutionary. Releasing organizations of the world still using a film will receive "digital" films via optical and satellite channels to locally make "celluloid" copies of the highest technical quality. Another perspective opportunity which has already begun be implemented is to organize the video release chain on a global scale displaying HD images on big screens.
However, making HD films ("Star wars. Episode II " by George Lucas being an example) is only the first phase of D-cinema evolving. To more precise coordinate worldwide studies, the list of basic study questions was developed which are summarized as Question 15/6:
What are the picture and sound performance goals, in subjective and objective terms, of the D-cinema?
What methods are appropriate for the subjective and objective assessment of sound and image quality of D-cinema programs?
Can a single digital production system be used to meet the D-cinema subjective performance goals in the acquisition, production and post-production of D-cinema programs?
Which digital production and post-production operating practices should be recommended in order to reliably meet the D-cinema performance goals even when the program requires complex post-production?
Which digital recording formats and operating practices should be recommended in order to meet the D-cinema performance goals?
Which methods can be recommended in transfer finished copies of D-cinema programs to 35mm film with optimal quality, for international program exchange and for cinema release?
Which information related to D-cinema programs should be carried by metadata through the digital production chain and through the digital distribution chain, and in which form?
Which methods can be recommended for the bit-rate-reduction encoding and for the encryption of D-cinema programs?
Which methods can be recommended to D-cinema programs for delivery by terrestrial or satellite emission?
At meetings of Working Parties and Task Groups of Study Group 6 and at the September 2002 plenary meeting of Study Group 6, proposals to modify Question 15/6 and the scope of Task Group 6/9 were widely discussed. This is coherent with the new approach to this problem based on a number of possibilities including the possibility of multi-purpose usage of digital TV systems and big screens not only for cinematography goals, but also for presenting theatrical productions and sports, cultural and other events at theatres, halls and various screen installation sites.
Study Group 6 set up a special drafting group chaired by Mr. S. Ling of the Australian Broadcasting Company, which has to prepare proposals on study questions under new circumstances.
