Synamedia tech behind BT Sport’s 8K UHD broadcast

TV technology outfit Synamedia’s VIVID Compression platform, powered by AMD EPYC 7763 processors, distributed BT Sport’s 8K-UHD broadcast of the Saracens vs. Bristol Bears Gallagher Premiership Rugby on March 26, 2022, the company has revealed.

The broadcast was the UK’s first live 8K home broadcast of a top-tier sporting event delivered in 8K using a single CPU to encode the broadcast.

According to Synamedia, VIVID Compression eliminates the need for multiple tiles and other techniques that compromise video quality.

The company said that the deployment proved that there is no need to split the 8K signal into 4K quadrants, nor for dedicated CPUs or other hardware acceleration.

“Within six months, we’ve delivered on our promise to distribute 8K content at scale and cost-effectively to help kickstart the 8K economy. Our highly efficient software-defined, AI-based compression algorithms, combined with the power of the AMD EPYC processor high core-counts, deliver on the market demand for immersive experiences to feel as if fans are ‘in the game.’ The global implications of this deployment with BT Sport will ignite live sports streaming in 8K for years to come; we’re excited to be a part of it,” said Elke Hungenaert, VP, product management, Synamedia.

“Our technology partnership with Synamedia has already helped drive the industry forward, and we’re proud to support companies like BT Sport on their mission to deliver high-quality viewing experiences. Our collaboration has already supported one industry-first, and we’re excited for the many more to come,” said James Knight, director, global media and entertainment – VFX, AMD.