“AT 3CAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE A BENCHMARK FOR QUALITY: UHD WILL CONFIRM THIS”

• Natàlia Prats, director of Digital and Technological Infrastructures at the Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals; Roger Guaus, head of distribution and DTT headers; and Toni Roig, director of Operations, analyse 3Cat’s technological leap in quality.
• 3Cat will launch a new Ultra High Definition channel in 2025. It will broadcast in 4K, with enhancements such as HDR and multiplatform access.
• The project includes testing, technical training, technology adaptation and a progressive emission model

3Cat is preparing to lead a new stage in the evolution of public television in Catalonia with the launch of an Ultra High Definition channel. This initiative, which will crystallise over the course of 2025, is not an isolated experiment, but the result of years of technological preparation, test broadcasts and a firm determination to offer the public the best possible audiovisual experience.

The Catalan Audiovisual Media Corporation (CCMA) will become one of the forerunners of Ultra High Definition Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) in Spain in 2025, along with Radio Televisión Española (RTVE) and Televisión de Galicia (TVG). The Spanish public broadcaster began regular UHD broadcasts on its main channel, La1, in February 2024, while in March 2025, the Galician public broadcaster became the first regional broadcaster to broadcast regularly in Ultra High Definition.

“This was an absolutely necessary leap,” says Natàlia Prats, director of Digital and Technological Infrastructures at the Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals. “Our goal is to reach the greatest number of citizens, and if the trend is towards UHD, we have to be there”.

The new channel will not only offer 4K content, but will also incorporate technologies such as HDR, a wider colour spectrum and greater image fluidity. An ambitious change that seeks to consolidate 3Cat’s position as a benchmark in audiovisual innovation in Spain.

A path that started in 2021, with firm steps and a clear road map

Although the UHD channel does not yet have a definitive premiere date, the journey to get here has been long and meticulous. Since 2021, 3Cat has carried out multiple test broadcasts in Ultra High Definition, both for special events and day-to-day content. “We started with a live broadcast from the Palau Sant Jordi, creating a DASH stream for HbbTV,” explains Roger Guaus, head of distribution and DTT headers. “From there, we added tests, adaptations and technical improvements.

The process has included the modernisation of equipment, the adaptation of post-production rooms, the creation of applications for Smart TVs and a clear strategy for the progressive incorporation of UHD content into 3Cat’s digital platform.

Operationally, 3Cat already has a mobile unit for medium-sized productions and works with standards such as SMPTE 2110 to optimise the management of UHD signals. “We didn’t start from scratch,” says Guaus, “but we did have to rethink workflows, media asset management, storage, ingest and playout.

The spectator as protagonist: experience, accessibility and future

The decision to opt for 4K responds to a technological demand and, above all, to the need to offer viewers the best possible quality. “Broadcasting in UHD is not just about increasing the resolution,” explains Toni Roig, Director of Operations. “It’s about applying HDR, extending the colour range and improving image fluidity. All of this contributes to a much more realistic experience.

3Cat plans to maintain HD broadcasting and strengthen access to UHD content via DTT, IP and its digital platform. “We already offer UHD content on demand via HbbTV,” says Prats, “and we will continue to expand this offer. The challenge is for more and more viewers to have easy access to this content and, above all, to make the most of it.

With regard to the adoption forecast, Roig recalls that “in 2023, 30.8% of TVs sold in Spain were UHD compatible, and in 2024 it exceeded 35%. Demand will grow”.

Although 8K broadcasting is not among their immediate plans, they do not rule it out for specific uses such as 360º recordings.

Towards a real DTT quality standard

Beyond the technical deployment, 3Cat insists that for UHD to be consolidated as a standard in Spain, it is essential to make progress in key aspects such as the availability of spectrum and the implementation of DVB-T2. “The challenge is to ensure that UHD looks really good,” stresses Guaus. “It’s not about broadcasting more channels, it’s about improving the quality.

In parallel, they are also preparing for live events in UHD, from concerts to sports, thanks to their current equipment and technical capabilities.

The new channel is seen as another step in 3Cat’s digital and audiovisual transformation process: “I think our audience identifies us with innovation, quality and constant evolution,” says Natàlia Prats. “This new channel will be very powerful, but we are also evolving a lot in terms of technology and formats. And therefore, I am proud to say, we will continue to be a benchmark in terms of content and quality. Therefore, UHD is an evolution that will confirm this“.

When will the channel see the light of day in 4K?

Although the announcement of 3Cat’s UHD channel is now official, there is still no firm date for the start of regular broadcasts. The project is moving forward, but depends on external factors such as the final allocation of spectrum.

“We are working towards launching it in 2025. But it doesn’t depend on us alone. In mid-February our government announced that we would be granted capacity for half a multiplex, but no specific date was specified,” acknowledges Natàlia Prats.

The technical team, for its part, is already in place to have the necessary infrastructure ready when the time comes.

About UHD Spain

UHD Spain is a non-profit association created on 26 January 2021 to promote Ultra High Definition (UHD) in Spain. There are currently 35 associate members: Ametic, Ateme, Atresmedia, Axión, 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.

To see the full interview go to ‘YOUR UHD ZONE’.