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IEC 13818-1-16 amd5-2018: Enhancing MPEG-2 Systems for Next-Generation Video and HDR Transport
Technical overview of Amendment 5 to ISO/IEC 13818-1 – Carriage of HEVC, VVC, and high dynamic range metadata in transport streams
Scope of the Amendment
IEC 13818-1-16 amd5-2018 (officially Amendment 5 to ISO/IEC 13818-1:2018 – Information technology — Generic coding of moving pictures and associated audio information: Systems) updates the MPEG-2 Transport Stream (TS) and Program Stream (PS) specifications to support emerging video codecs and advanced colorimetry. The amendment introduces new stream_type assignments for High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) and Versatile Video Coding (VVC), along with signaling provisions for High Dynamic Range (HDR) and Wide Color Gamut (WCG) metadata. It also refines descriptor structures to accommodate layered coding, multi-view video, and other enhancements needed for modern broadcasting and streaming environments.
The key areas addressed include:
- New
stream_typevalues for HEVC and VVC bitstreams, ensuring unambiguous identification in Program Map Tables (PMT). - Carriage of HDR/WCG static and dynamic metadata (e.g., SMPTE ST 2086, HDR10+ metadata) in the Transport Stream.
- Descriptors for signaling of high bit depth, color primaries, transfer characteristics, and matrix coefficients.
- Enhanced support for temporal and spatial scalability, including layered HEVC (SHVC).
- Updates to the Video Stream Descriptor and extension descriptors to handle new parameter sets.
Note: Although the document identifier “IEC 13818-1-16” is sometimes used for this amendment, the official designation is ISO/IEC 13818-1:2018/Amd 5:2018. The amendment is fully backward-compatible with existing MPEG-2 Systems implementations.
Technical Requirements
New stream_type Values
IEC 13818-1-16 amd5-2018 assigns the following hexadecimal stream_type codes for Table 2-1 of MPEG-2 Systems:
| stream_type | Codec / Format | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0x24 | HEVC (H.265) | ITU-T H.265 | ISO/IEC 23008-2 – Main, Main 10, and Main 4:2:2 profiles |
| 0x25 | HEVC Temporal Scalability | Layered HEVC with temporal sublayers (SHVC base layer + enh.) |
| 0x26 | VVC (H.266) | ITU-T H.266 | ISO/IEC 23090-3 – Main 10 profile |
| 0x27 | VVC Scalable | Multilayer VVC for spatial, SNR, or interlace/progressive scalability |
These codes allow multiplexers and demultiplexers to identify the exact video coding format without parsing elementary stream headers. The amendment also reserves corresponding values for the Program Stream environment.
HDR / WCG Signaling
To support high dynamic range and wide color gamut, the amendment enhances the Video Stream Descriptor and introduces two new optional descriptors:
- Content Color Volume Descriptor – carries static HDR parameters (display primaries, max/min luminance, etc.) per SMPTE ST 2086.
- Dynamic HDR Metadata Descriptor – signals carriage of SEI messages containing HDR10+ or similar dynamic metadata.
These descriptors are placed at the program or component level in the PMT, enabling receivers to perform tone mapping and color conversion without out-of-band agreements.
Layered and Multiview Video Support
The amendment clarifies the signaling of base and enhancement layers for HEVC and VVC scalable profiles. A new Layered Video Descriptor indicates dependency relationships, resolution ratios, and codec-specific sublayer identifiers. The descriptor also supports the multiview video coding (MVC) extension for backward compatibility with 3D broadcasting.
Implementation Care: Equipment that only supports earlier stream_type values (e.g., 0x1B for H.264/AVC) will ignore new stream types unless specifically updated. Gateways and transcoders must preserve the hierarchical dependency information carried in the PMT and descriptor loops.
Implementation Highlights
Backward Compatibility
All additions made by IEC 13818-1-16 amd5-2018 are optional at the multiplex level. Legacy decoders can still decode base-layer video if it is present (e.g., a compatible AVC or HEVC base layer). New descriptors are placed in descriptor loops that older receivers will skip gracefully. Transport Stream structure (packetization, PES, timing) remains unchanged.
Multiplexer and Encoder Updates
To comply with the amendment, multiplexers must:
- Assign the appropriate stream_type when encapsulating HEVC or VVC bitstreams.
- Generate the Video Stream Descriptor with updated fields for profile/level indication.
- Insert the Content Color Volume and Dynamic HDR Metadata descriptors when HDR content is streamed.
- Ensure that Temporal Scalability and other layered streams correctly reference base-layer PIDs via the Layered Video Descriptor.
Receiver / Middleware Considerations
Terminal devices (STBs, TV sets) need software updates to:
- Parse the new stream_type codes and demux HEVC/VVC PES packets.
- Extract HDR descriptors and drive display behavior (e.g., switching to HDR mode).
- Interpret the Layered Video Descriptor to enable fallback to lower-resolution or lower-frame-rate base layers when necessary.
Best Practice: For broadcasters migrating to UHD/HDR, the recommendations in the amendment align with DVB‑UHD Phase 2 and ATSC 3.0 requirements. Testing conformance with the ISO/IEC reference software for systems (e.g., TS-Lite) is strongly advised before deployment.
Compliance Notes
Conformance Testing
IEC 13818-1-16 amd5-2018 does not define a separate conformance clause; rather, it refers to the main part of ISO/IEC 13818-1 and the relevant video coding standards. However, implementors should verify the following:
- All new stream_type assignments are used exactly as specified; other codecs must not reuse these values.
- Descriptors (especially those carrying HDR metadata) must not exceed the maximum descriptor length and must follow the ordering rules in the Systems specification.
- Layer dependency loops (e.g., A depends on B, B depends on A) must be avoided in the Layered Video Descriptor.
Regulatory and Industry References
Compliance also depends on the referenced standards:
- ISO/IEC 13818-1:2018 (base Systems specification)
- ITU-T H.265 | ISO/IEC 23008-2 (HEVC) and ITU-T H.266 | ISO/IEC 23090-3 (VVC)
- SMPTE ST 2086 and CTA‑861.3 (HDR static metadata)
- IEC 13818-10 (DSM‑CC) remains unaffected.
Important: The amendment does not retroactively change the meaning of existing stream_type codes. Devices claiming compliance with this amendment must handle the new types without impacting decoding of legacy content. Always check the latest corrigenda for potential corrections to descriptor syntax.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does IEC 13818-1-16 amd5-2018 replace the base standard ISO/IEC 13818-1?
A: No. The amendment is additive and must be used together with ISO/IEC 13818-1:2018 (the fourth edition). It introduces new tables and descriptors but does not alter any existing syntax except to extend reserved ranges. The combined document is sometimes informally labeled IEC 13818-1-16.
A: No. The amendment is additive and must be used together with ISO/IEC 13818-1:2018 (the fourth edition). It introduces new tables and descriptors but does not alter any existing syntax except to extend reserved ranges. The combined document is sometimes informally labeled IEC 13818-1-16.
Q: Which devices need to implement this amendment?
A: Any device that transmits or receives MPEG-2 Transport Streams containing HEVC or VVC video, especially in UHD/HDR services. Digital TV headends, satellite/terrestrial/cable multiplexers, and consumer receivers that support UHD Phase 2 or ATSC 3.0 should adopt the new signaling. Legacy DVB-T/T2 receivers may not require updates if they do not use HDR or the new codecs.
A: Any device that transmits or receives MPEG-2 Transport Streams containing HEVC or VVC video, especially in UHD/HDR services. Digital TV headends, satellite/terrestrial/cable multiplexers, and consumer receivers that support UHD Phase 2 or ATSC 3.0 should adopt the new signaling. Legacy DVB-T/T2 receivers may not require updates if they do not use HDR or the new codecs.
Q: Is the amendment compatible with DVB standards?
A: Yes. DVB has incorporated the stream_type assignments and HDR descriptors from this amendment into DVB‑UHD Phase 2 (TS 101 154). The amendment also harmonizes the carriage of base‑level HDR10 metadata, which ATSC 3.0 already mandates.
A: Yes. DVB has incorporated the stream_type assignments and HDR descriptors from this amendment into DVB‑UHD Phase 2 (TS 101 154). The amendment also harmonizes the carriage of base‑level HDR10 metadata, which ATSC 3.0 already mandates.
Q: Will there be future amendments for even newer codecs?
A: Work continues in ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 29. Later amendments (e.g., Amd 6 and Amd 7) cover Essential Video Coding (EVC) and Low‑Complexity Enhancement Coding (LCEVC). This amendment remains the authoritative reference for HEVC, VVC, and HDR signaling until those are merged into the next edition of the Systems standard.
A: Work continues in ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 29. Later amendments (e.g., Amd 6 and Amd 7) cover Essential Video Coding (EVC) and Low‑Complexity Enhancement Coding (LCEVC). This amendment remains the authoritative reference for HEVC, VVC, and HDR signaling until those are merged into the next edition of the Systems standard.
Document reference: IEC 13818-1-16 amd5‑2018 (Equivalent to ISO/IEC 13818‑1:2018/Amd 5:2018). Last updated: 2026. This article is intended for technical professionals and does not constitute legal or certification advice.