Enhanced Audio Quality: ARTE Embraces Fraunhofer's MPEG-H Dialog+ Technology
In a significant stride towards improving audio accessibility, ARTE, one of Europe's leading broadcasters, has implemented the latest version of MPEG-H Dialog+ on its streaming platform, arte.tv. This move makes ARTE one of the first European broadcasters to apply this refined solution in regular streaming operations, enhancing the viewing experience for audiences, particularly those with hearing impairments.
ARTE's collaboration with the German research institute Fraunhofer IIS has been instrumental in implementing MPEG-H Dialog+ across its video-on-demand service. This technology, developed by Fraunhofer IIS, separates dialogue from a programme's background audio using artificial intelligence and deep neural networks. This allows for the remixing of the final audio mix without requiring access to original production stems.
Recently, Fraunhofer IIS addressed one of the biggest challenges in dialogue enhancement: distinguishing spoken dialogue from singing. This update to MPEG-H Dialog+ represents a further step towards making streaming more accessible to audiences. Other German public broadcasters, including ARD, are also deploying MPEG-H Dialog+ in their own platforms.
Meanwhile, iWedia, a leading provider of software solutions for digital TV and multimedia, has partnered with Fraunhofer IIS to integrate MPEG-H Audio into their ATSC 3.0 software stack. This collaboration aims to enhance audio capabilities in Android and contribute to the rollout of Brazil's next-generation DTV+ broadcast standard.
In another development, Technicolor, Fraunhofer IIS, and Globo have showcased HDR and MPEG-H Audio content compliant with Brazil's TV 2.5 standard on Hisense TVs. The demonstration highlighted the upconversion of standard dynamic range (SDR) content to deliver a premium experience for sports fans in live broadcast.
The DVB Project, an industry-led consortium that develops open standards for digital television and data services, has also been active. The organisation has elected a new Steering Board to serve for the next two years, with 43 companies across DVB's four member constituencies being elected. Additionally, the DVB Project has approved a new DVB Workplan, which includes Service Discovery over Internet protocol.
ARTE's expansion of its accessibility offering on arte.tv is a testament to the growing recognition of the importance of accessibility in digital media. As more broadcasters adopt technologies like MPEG-H Dialog+, the viewing experience for all audiences is set to improve significantly.
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