Posted Thu Aug 4, 2016 at 12:15 PM PDT by Steven Cohen
Forget 4K, Japan is already testing 8K TV broadcasts.
Earlier this week, NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corp.) began its first 8K test broadcasts in Japan through its BS satellite channels. The company hopes to use the tests in preparation for full public 8K coverage of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
The test transmissions feature 8K Super Hi-Vision material with a resolution of 7680 x 4320 and 22.2 channel immersive audio. Unfortunately, the test material is not being broadcast directly to the public, but Japanese citizens can watch the footage on 8K displays at NHK's broadcasting centers nationwide. Likewise, designated 8K viewing events for test broadcasts are also planned for six venues, including Tokyo and Osaka. 8K footage will consist of pretaped clips, including 8K material recorded during the 2012 Olympics, and an actual live broadcast of the Rio Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies. In addition, recorded and partly live coverage for several Rio events (swimming, judo, athletics, basketball and football) will also be broadcast. 8K content for the events is being displayed on projection screens (as big as 520-inches) and 8K TVs (55-inch and 85-inch models). There is currently only one 8K display available in Japan, the Sharp LV-85001, but the country hopes to use the Rio 8K broadcasts as a test for the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020, with public 8K broadcasting set to launch in 2018.
Outside of 8K test broadcasting, NBC recently announced details for its own public 4K Ultra HD broadcasts of the Rio Olympics. The 4K footage will be broadcast with a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160, and the Opening Ceremony will also include HDR (high dynamic range) and Dolby Atmos immersive object based audio. The Ultra HD content will be available through Comcast, DirecTV, DISH, and EPB in the US.
Sources: Engadget, Japan Times, NHK
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