BT Sport scored a world first this weekend by broadcasting, live, the UEFA Champions League Final using High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology in Ultra-High Definition (UHD) with Dolby Atmos sound at a private screening in London.

The match was also made available for the first time in 4K UHD on YouTube and 4K UHD with Dolby Atmos sound on BT TV, as well as in Virtual Reality through a number of 360°streams available via YouTube and a new BT Sport Virtual Reality App – all for free.

The milestones are part of a series of innovations led by the broadcaster in conjunction with partners across the televisual and technology sectors.

Ericsson provided playout of the BT Sport channels in 4K UHD with Dolby Atmos sound and supported BT Sport with a wide range of activity, including the delivery of the free-to-view 4K simulcast to YouTube. Ericsson also managed VOD content delivery on behalf of the broadcaster, and provided access services (live subtitling), disaster recovery and its award-winning sports graphic software, PIERO.

The two companies have a long history of working together to drive innovation in TV. In 2013, Ericsson and BT Sport signed a multi-year broadcast and media services deal which includes playout, media management services, rich metadata, access services (live and pre-recorded subtitling and audio description) and PIERO.  In 2015, BT Sport selected Ericsson to help launch three new TV channels – including BT Sport UHD, the first ultra-high-definition channel to launch in the UK – and an interactive red button service. In 2016, Ericsson and BT Sport teamed up to showcase the first ever live demonstration of a single-slice high efficiency video coding (HEVC) contribution link used in the delivery of 4K UHDTV.

Thorsten Sauer, Head of Broadcast and Media Services, Ericsson, says: “Having worked with BT Sport for a number of years, we have established a strong partnership that is grounded in innovation and transformation, delivering truly immersive experiences that meet and exceed consumers’ demands. We’re proud to work with BT Sport and its network of industry partners on this ground-breaking broadcast of the UEFA Champions League Final. By leveraging the latest technology, we were able to deliver the very best picture and the very best sound available – befitting of the biggest occasion in club football.”

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