“THE LAUNCH OF TELEVISIÓN DE GALICIA IN UHD POSITIONS US AS AN ADVANCED BROADCASTER COMMITTED TO INCORPORATING NEW STANDARDS”

• TVG began broadcasting its main channel in Ultra High Definition on March 28, 2025, becoming the first regional channel in Spain to broadcast a channel with these characteristics through Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT).
• The TVG signal in UHD, in addition to offering a 4K resolution to viewers, has high dynamic range (HDR) with HLG curve, which provides a higher contrast, increasing the sharpness of the image.
• In the second planned phase, the objective is to have the capacity to record and reproduce in the continuity system those native contents that will be produced in the medium term in UHD, both recorded and live events, as well as to be able to distribute them through its on-demand digital content platform AGalega.gal.

On March 28, 2025, Televisión de Galicia marked a milestone in the promotion of Ultra High Definition in Spain by becoming the first regional channel to broadcast a channel with these characteristics at national level through Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT).

With this great step at the regional level, the Galician public media reinforce their profile at the technological forefront and reiterate their commitment to technological evolution and innovation, offering Galician citizens a higher quality service.

As a member of the Federation of Autonomous Radio and Television Organizations (FORTA), in turn a partner of UHD Spain, the Galician Radio and Television Corporation (CRTVG) gives us the keys and previews what is to come from the broadcasting of its main channel in Ultra High Definition.

What does it mean for TVG to become the first regional broadcaster to broadcast in Ultra High Definition?

For the RTVG Corporation, the launch of its main channel TVG in UHD on DTT is evidence of its commitment to technical innovation in the audiovisual services it provides, positioning it as a technologically advanced broadcaster, committed to the incorporation of new standards.

This announcement was unexpected for many. What was the main reason for taking this technological step?

Launching TVG’s main channel in UHD through DTT started to be considered from the moment the definitive switch-off date of SD channels in DTT was established, scheduled in February 2024 in the National Technical Plan for DTT. The disappearance of these channels made it possible to optimize the bandwidth of the multiplex.

What equipment or technology has been incorporated to enable this improvement?

The focus has been on implementing UHD simulcasting of the HD signal. To this end, in collaboration with our network operator, we have installed the necessary scaling and encoding devices to broadcast this signal in UHD quality.

What are the main features of this new UHD channel: 4K, HDR, immersive audio…?

The TVG signal in UHD, in addition to offering 4K resolution to viewers, has high dynamic range (HDR) with HLG curve, which provides a higher contrast, increasing the sharpness of the image. On the other hand, we have introduced the extended color space (WCG) according to the ITU-R BT.2020 standard, with a color depth of 10 bit.

We also used a progressive HFR rate of 50 frames per second, in which CRTVG had been producing for years, which has been an advantage when transitioning to UHD.

For signal encoding, advanced HEVC encoding was used, which is more spectrally efficient.

How can a viewer be sure to be watching TVG in UHD? Is it broadcast on any other platform? TV a la carte?

Currently, all TV sets configured with 4K and HDR are compatible with our signal, which is also identified with the “UHD” logo. The first phase of the UHD transition project has already taken place, with the launch of the main UHD simulcast channel on DTT. In the second phase, we aim to have the capacity to record and reproduce in the continuity system those native contents that will be produced in the medium term in UHD, both recorded and live events, as well as to be able to distribute them through our digital platform of on-demand contents AGalega.gal.

Do you expect an increase in audience or a change in consumption habits with this improvement? Are there any figures for UHD-compatible TV sets in Galicia?

Our priority objective in this first phase is to offer a universal public service of higher quality and more attractive to citizens, using as a basis the technological modernization of DTT broadcasts.

How do you assess the situation of public television in Spain with respect to the adoption of UHD?

There is no doubt that the publication in March of this year of the new National Technical Plan for the implementation of UHD in DTT in Spain has been a boost. While broadcasting the UHD signal through DTT, from a technical perspective, can be a relatively simple process, the adoption of production standards that allow UHD production throughout the entire production chain of a broadcaster will require the implementation of projects of greater complexity in all aspects, timing, costs, etc.

Do you think that this type of advances can make significant differences between regional broadcasters?

The characteristics and circumstances of each regional broadcaster are unique and diverse, as are and can be the objectives and the different technical solutions adopted by each regional broadcaster to launch signals based on new video format technologies such as UHD, Full HD with HDR… either through DTT, Hbbtv, on-demand content platforms, etc.

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About UHD Spain

UHD Spain is a non-profit association created on January 26, 2021 to promote Ultra High Definition (UHD) in Spain. Currently there are already 34 associate members: Ametic, Ateme, Atresmedia, Axion, Canal Sur, Canon, CCMA, Cellnex, Cires21, COITT, Dolby, Fenitel, Forta, Fraunhofer, Grup Mediapro, Gsertel, Henneo, Hispasat, Hurí, Lavinia, Medina Media, Rohde & Schwarz, RTVE, Sapec, Synamedia, Tedial, Telecom CLM, Televés, TRedess, TVU Networks, UPM, Uteca, Vestel and Video-MOS.