UHD broadcast of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games

France Télévisions, a French public broadcasting group, is a key player in the national media landscape. To ensure France 2's Ultra High Definition (UHD) broadcast, particularly for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, France Télévisions chose Phoenix automation developed by MBT. This strategic project marked a major milestone for the company, affirming its role as a technological showcase and strengthening its leadership in large-scale audiovisual broadcasting.

The project

Goals

France Télévisions' ambition was to offer UHD broadcasting of flagship programs, in particular major sporting events such as Roland-Garros and the 2024 Olympic Games. Initially, this approach was based on upscaling, with the objective, from 2026, of broadcasting recorded programs in native 4K.

Constraints

The main constraint was the timeline: the commissioning had to be operational in time for the opening of the Olympic Games. On the technical side, one of the major challenges lay in the integration of Dolby Atmos audio, in order to offer a unique immersive experience to viewers.

Key steps

• Pilot temporary channel for Roland Garros 2023.
• On-air transition for Roland Garros 2024.
• Full integration of Dolby Atmos for the 2024 Olympic Games.

MBT Solutions Implemented

Deployed Products

• Phoenix Playout (Multi-channel broadcast automation).

Specific developments

• Adaptation of existing drivers
• Development of dedicated drivers for specific audio management (notably Jünger Audio AIXPressor and Imagine SNP)

Results and observed benefits

Thanks to Phoenix automation and specific developments carried out by MBT, France Télévisions was able to offer its viewers high-quality UHD broadcasting within extremely tight deadlines. The project reinforced the public broadcaster's modern and reliable image, while ensuring coverage of several major sporting events under optimal conditions.

The technical teams benefited from the seamless integration of the new equipment, as well as simplified multichannel audio management, paving the way for the sustainable use of UHD and Dolby Atmos content in the program schedule.

Perspectives

This project represents a significant step forward for France Télévisions, which has demonstrated its ability to meet ambitious technological challenges within very tight deadlines. The successful integration of UHD and Dolby Atmos provides a solid foundation for the future rollout of 4K broadcasting across other programs and channels within the group. The flexibility of Phoenix automation and MBT’s expertise provide France Télévisions with a reliable technological foundation to pursue its modernization strategy and support the evolution of broadcasting standards.

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