CANAL+ Visits CMG: A Step Toward Global UHD Innovation
On May 22, 2025, the French media conglomerate CANAL+ Group visited China Media Group (CMG), a standing council member of the UHD World Association (UWA), for an in-depth technical and strategic exchange. The visit was jointly supported by UWA’s international outreach department and fellow standing council member Huawei.
Facilitated by UWA, a five-person delegation from CANAL+ Group—led by Chief Technology Officer Mr. Stéphane Baumier and Chief Marketing Officer Ms. Eglantine Leclabart—visited CMG and held talks with Mr. Zhao Guihua, Deputy Director of the CMG Technology Bureau and Deputy Director of the National Key Laboratory for UHD Audio-Visual Production and Broadcasting, along with his technical team.
The CANAL+ delegation toured CMG’s 8K big screen exhibition, the National Key Laboratory, and the Ultra HD cloud production system. Mr. Zhao and his team provided comprehensive on-site explanations throughout the visit. The group then moved to the meeting room for in-depth presentations and technical discussions.
Mr. Lin Fei, an expert from CMG’s Technology Bureau, provided a systematic overview of CMG’s UHD production and broadcasting history, current deployment, and future strategy. He also shared insights on CMG’s IP-based transformation and UHD technology deployment, including associated risk mitigation measures. Particular focus was given to CMG’s broadcasting plans for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics using UHD and Audio & HDR Vivid standards, as well as preliminary arrangements for the Milan 2026 Winter Olympics involving 8K and HDR Vivid technologies. UWA technical experts presented the Audio & HDR Vivid solutions and ecosystem development, as well as future trends in next-generation video technology.
CTO Stéphane Baumier expressed gratitude to UWA and CMG for organizing the visit, noting that the delegation gained valuable insights from CMG’s experience and would explore future collaboration opportunities. The visit was rich in content and yielded fruitful outcomes, offering a comprehensive showcase of China’s innovation in IP-based broadcasting, UHD production, and the application of the Audio & HDR Vivid standards. It provided useful references for media giants navigating business and technology transformation.
UWA will continue to deepen international cooperation, foster global exchanges, and promote the adoption of the Audio & HDR Vivid standards, contributing to the steady growth of the global UHD industry.