The Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE) has initiated a new project called “3D over Cable” that will focus on identifying necessary or desirable changes to existing SCTE standards, including transport protocols, to facilitate the provision of 3D content by cable operators.
Last October CED reported on the formation of an SCTE task force to look into the role the organization could play in developing 3D (story here).
The SCTE’s Engineering Committee, which oversees the Society’s development of technical standards covering all aspects of cable networks, approved the project to examine the delivery of 3D content over cable networks.
“Although 3D content is available today over cable, the long-term delivery of next generation 3D content will be strengthened by the adoption of uniform engineering and technical criteria,” said SCTE Engineering Committee Chair Charlie Kennamer. “To that end, SCTE intends to examine new 3D television technology to develop standards that can be used by the cable industry to deliver a more immersive television experience.”
The 3D project has been assigned to SCTE’s Digital Video Subcommittee (DVS), which will make recommendations on standards and protocols based on the needs of the cable industry. As part of this effort, DVS will consider not only cable industry activities but also standards work being conducted in other organizations such as the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).
The subcommittee will discuss its new project at its March meeting. DVS is chaired by Paul J. Hearty, Ph.D., of Ryerson University.