COMPOSITE COMPATIBLE COMPONENT CODING (COM3)

This paper describes a method devised by the BBC for adapting the codi ng and decoding processes associated with PAL studio systems to enable them to carry component signals of a quality comparable with that of the Rec. 601 digital standard. This system, known as Com3, enables the benefits of component coding to be enjoyed even where studio systems have not yet been converted from composite to component form. An exper t evaluation of the Com3 system has validated the claims made for its performance and confirmed its compatibility with existing composite st udio systems. The Com3 specification is now appended to the ITU draft recommendation on studio formats for enhanced 16:9 625-line television systems. Similar possibilities exist for composite NTSC.