The　multiview　video　coding　(MVC)　extension　of　H.264/AVC　is　the　emerging　standard　for　compression　of　impressive　3D　and　free-viewpoint　video.　The　coding　structure　in　MVC　adopts　motion　and　disparity　estimation　to　exploit　temporal　and　inter-view　dependencies　in　MVC.　It　results　in　a　considerable　increase　in　encoding　complexity.　Most　of　the　computational　burden　comes　from　uni-directional　and　bi-directional　prediction.　In　this　paper,　an　iterative　search　strategy　is　designed　to　speed　up　the　uni-directional　prediction　in　MVC.　It　can　work　with　an　adaptive　search　range　adjustment　through　a　confidence　measure　of　a　loop　constraint　to　obtain　both　motion　and　disparity　vectors　jointly.　Furthermore,　a　selective　bi-directional　prediction　algorithm　is　proposed　to　enhance　the　coding　performance　by　analyzing　the　statistical　characteristics　of　bi-directional　prediction　in　MVC.　Experimental　results　demonstrate　that,　by　using　the　proposed　fast　search,　the　temporal　and　inter-view　redundancies　of　multiview　video　can　be　eliminated　sufficiently　with　low　complexity.　(C)　2012　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.