Author Mahmoud Al-Daccak is a seasoned media technology executive recognized for driving innovation and business growth across the streaming and broadcast ecosystem. He has led the development of award-winning technologies, including SRT and datacenter video acceleration products, earning two Emmy Awards for Technology and Engineering.
Introduction – HEVC Adoption and Impact
From ultra-sharp 4K streaming to bandwidth-sensitive video conferencing, modern digital life depends on efficient video compression. One of the most important technologies enabling this is HEVC, or High Efficiency Video Coding—a codec that’s been quietly transforming how video is delivered in the real world.
In this post, we’ll explore why HEVC matters, the challenges it has faced, how it’s gaining ground, and where it’s headed next.
The Promise of HEVC
HEVC (also known as H.265) was introduced to succeed H.264, the workhorse codec that powers most of today’s streaming and video services. Primary advantage? Up to 50% better compression efficiency at similar visual quality. That means:
– Higher resolution video at lower bitrates
– Reduced streaming costs and bandwidth usage
– Better quality experiences, especially over constrained networks
Despite this leap forward, HEVC adoption hasn’t mirrored the fast rise of its predecessor.
Why H.264 Has Stuck Around—and Why That’s Changing
H.264 has remained the dominant codec for over a decade, thanks to its performance and near-universal support. But its hold onto the market also reflects how hard it is for broadcasters and streaming platforms to switch technologies at scale.
Challenges in Moving from H.264 to HEVC
Device Compatibility
HEVC decoding wasn’t always available on all devices, especially older smartphones, browsers, or smart TVs. H.264, in contrast, is practically ubiquitous.
Infrastructure Overhaul
Migrating to HEVC often means retooling encoders, transcoders, and delivery pipelines—hardware and software alike.
Licensing Complexity
Unlike H.264’s more straightforward licensing, HEVC’s fragmented patent pools have created uncertainty for companies trying to estimate long-term costs.
Operational Complexity
Supporting multiple codecs in parallel adds cost and complexity—duplicated content, more storage, and additional QA workflows.
Why HEVC Is Now Gaining Ground
HEVC adoption is accelerating due to a combination of technical and market-driven factors. The growing demand for 4K and HDR streaming has exposed the limitations of H.264, which can no longer deliver high-resolution content efficiently at scale. At the same time, device support for HEVC has improved significantly – most modern TVs, smartphones, and operating systems now include native decoding capabilities. Rising bandwidth costs and increasing pressure to reduce energy consumption have also made HEVC’s compression efficiency more attractive to service providers.
- Today, HEVC is widely used in a range of professional video workflows. It plays a central role in broadcast infrastructure, powering satellite and terrestrial 4K channels.
- It is a key component of streaming services that deliver UHD and HDR content to viewers worldwide.
- In video conferencing and surveillance, HEVC helps balance quality with limited bandwidth, enabling smooth, reliable communication.
- It is also commonly used in archival and production environments, where its high compression efficiency supports long-term storage and distribution needs.
These deployments typically rely on mature and proven software implementations that are optimized for cloud environments, take advantage of hardware acceleration, and adapt to a variety of application-specific requirements.
The Road Ahead for HEVC
Smarter Encoding with AI
Newer encoding frameworks are incorporating AI-driven rate control and scene analysis, improving both compression and perceived quality.
Hybrid Encoding Models
Layered systems—like pairing HEVC with LCEVC—are becoming attractive for scaling quality without adding compute strain.
Sustainability and Efficiency
HEVC’s ability to reduce bitrate translates into real energy and cost savings.
Long-Term Relevance Amid New Codecs
New codecs such as AV1 and VVC (Versatile Video Coding) offer even higher compression, but face challenges:
– AV1 is royalty-free but has high encoding complexity.
– VVC offers excellent quality but limited decoder support and complex licensing.
HEVC remains the more deployable and pragmatic choice today.
x265 and the Evolution of HEVC Tools
A significant part of HEVC’s accessibility has come from open-source and commercially supported encoders. Among them, x265 has become a trusted engine for both cloud and on-prem encoding workflows, powering a wide range of broadcast, VOD, and conferencing applications. The latest release of x265 adds many HEVC features such as MV-HEVC (Multiview-HEVC), ACC (Alpha Channel Coding), SCC (Screen Content Coding), and FGS (Film Grain Synthesis). In addition to a multitude of x86 and ARM hardware-specific optimizations.
For organizations seeking advanced capabilities, performance tuning, and commercial-grade support, the Ultraziq product family offers a refined HEVC solution built on this foundation, ideal for high-density live encoding, scalable high-volume encoding pipelines or integrating AI-enhanced workflows.
Conclusion – A Codec Built to Last
HEVC may not have replaced H.264 overnight, but it has quietly established itself as a core pillar of modern video delivery. As device support grows, infrastructure evolves, and cost pressures mount, HEVC’s role will only grow stronger.
With trusted tools like x265 and premium solutions like Ultraziq available to support a broad range of applications, the HEVC era is very much alive and evolving, even as the industry looks ahead to what comes next. To know more, contact our team at info@multicorewareinc.com