Abstract
This paper describes a method devised by the BBC for adapting the coding 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 Com 3 , enables the benefits of component coding to be enjoyed even where studio systems have not yet been converted from composite to component form. An expert evaluation of the Com 3 system has validated the claims made for its performance and confirmed its compatibility with existing composite studio systems. The Com 3 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.