Jan Outters to lead DVB’s Commercial Module
Jan Outters, who is Director of Technology & Standards at Ateme, has been elected as Chair of the DVB Commercial Module. He will thus play a key role in shaping DVB’s work over the coming years, leading the group that captures the business needs that DVB specifications must serve.
With Ateme since 2023, Jan helps the company’s research and innovation team develop technologies for video processing and delivery, and drives partnership projects and standardization activities. As Chair, since 2023, of DVB’s Commercial Module working group on audio and video coding, CM-AVC, he brings considerable knowledge of the often complex process of consensus-based standardization.
Jan takes over from David Peilow, who has stepped down following a move to a new role within the European Space Agency. Ralf Schaefer of InterDigital will continue as Vice-chair of the CM.
The Commercial Module is a key differentiator for the DVB Project, supporting its market-oriented strategy. Within the CM and its subgroups, the commercial aspects of DVB work items are deliberated, and a consensus is reached to form a set of commercial requirements. Additionally, the CM ensures that the technical specifications, created by the DVB Technical Module, meet these commercial requirements before they are submitted to the DVB Steering Board for final approval.
Commenting on his election, Jan said: “It is a great honour to assume this role following the exceptional contributions of David Peilow and, before him, Martyn Lee. I am deeply grateful for the trust placed in me by my DVB colleagues. Delivering market-driven specifications and standards remains a cornerstone of DVB’s mission, and I look forward to collaborating with my Commercial Module colleagues to navigate the rapidly evolving industry landscape.”
Positive and engaged
DVB Chair Remo Vogel welcomed the new appointment, saying “Jan Outters brings a valuable mix of product development experience alongside active participation in standardization activities. He has been guiding DVB’s CM-AVC group with a steady hand over the last few years and is a positive and engaged member of our Steering Board. I’m grateful to Ateme for supporting Jan in this new role and look forward to working alongside him as we continue to shape the future of television. I also wish David Peilow every success in his new responsibilities at ESA and am pleased that he will continue to contribute to DVB’s work.“
In a career that has also seen him working for SES, Samsung, Philips and the former Institut für Rundfunktechnik in Munich, Jan Outters has developed new technologies for media delivery and contributed to the development of several European standards, including for UHD, as well as representing the German public broadcasters on spectrum matters. He has a master’s degree in electrical engineering from ENSERG and an engineering degree from the University of Karlsruhe.
