As the CTO of the Digital TV Group (DTG), I have witnessed numerous advancements in broadcasting technology over the years. However, the latest 5G Broadcast initiative by TDF, in collaboration with partners like partners like France Television, R&S, Ateme, Xiaomi and Qualcomm among others during the Olympic Games, is particularly impressive.
Spanning three cities Paris, Nantes, and Bordeaux, and operational for the duration of the Olympic Games this summer, TDF will deliver linear live TV and radio services over 5G Broadcast. I had the opportunity to travel to Paris at the invitation of TDF to see the groundbreaking system in action.
5G Broadcast proofs of concept have been showcased in various countries before, covering a range of events. What sets TDF’s effort apart, other than transmitting from one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, the Eiffel Tower, is their strategic vision.
While previous demos have primarily been exploratory, TDF’s initiative is the beginning of a long-term strategy aimed at reaching 27 million viewers with 5G Broadcast by 2030. This ambitious goal is backed by substantial groundwork under their ‘Programme 5G Broadcast’, which includes technical implementation, network planning, marketing, communications, benchmarking, and compliance with standards and regulations.
Their plan includes migrating their UHD mux to 5G Broadcast by 2028 and converting their national pay-TV mux by 2030. The Olympic Games coverage is the first significant milestone in this plan. For this event, TDF is providing linear services over 5G Broadcast, offering TV from France TV, Arte, and France Media Mode, as well as radio from France Info and France Bleu. The TV services are broadcast in 720P or 1080P, depending on the available bandwidth.
A crucial aspect of this project is TDF’s partnership with Xiaomi, a major handset provider. Xiaomi has configured their Mi13 handsets to support 5G Broadcast using Qualcomm middleware, a critical step in the support for 5G Broadcast rollout. TDF has distributed these handsets to 250 selected users, including influencers and industry stakeholders, who can access the 5G broadcast services via the TNT app called “InsTNT.” This app also allows users to provide real-time feedback, helping TDF build an overview of the demand for these new services.
TDF’s vision for 5G Broadcast extends beyond France. They plan to incrementally expand this technology across Europe in parallel with commercial handset support, generating revenue from advertising. Research supported by Media Broadcast in Germany indicates substantial market potential, with two-thirds of respondents aged 16 to 50+ showing strong interest. There is particular enthusiasm for watching linear TV on the move without relying on mobile networks or Wi-Fi, which could drive the uptake of public service TV on the go. This new capability could attract new audiences in various scenarios, such as waiting in train stations or travelling, with potential advertising revenue exceeding 500 million Euros annually within five years of implementation.
Other countries, including Spain, Italy, and Estonia, are also launching similar services, with many more running trials and projects. In the UK, the ONE4HDD project is exploring 5G Broadcast for enhanced user experiences at sporting events, using one of TDF’s handsets to gather feedback.
ONE4HDD, led by the DTG, will also be looking at additional advanced 5G Broadcast functionality as part of its R&D work such as the inclusion of dynamic ad-insertion to support personalised features, MPEG-H interactive audio, and conditional access to enable categories of users.
Marquee events like the recent Euros or the Olympics are prime examples where this type of technology is a game-changer. Of the back of this, other use cases such Smart Stadia will be enabled through the proliferation of 5G Broadcast compatible networks and devices. The ONE4HDD consortium will be outlining the result of its project investigating this use case at the end of March 2025.
But in the near term, TDF’s transition of 5G Broadcast from niche demonstrations to a commercial service is now a tangible reality. It promises to reach new audiences with linear TV content, modernise DTT networks, and introduce innovative features for smartphones.
I am genuinely excited about the potential of this technology and the future it heralds for broadcasting. Audiences having access to live, linear TV on the move, at the station, at the park with friends, without the need for internet access or even a subscription of any kind, will open up a host of new opportunities for broadcasters and for the future of public service TV. Bring on the Games!
