Japan’s NHK to Showcase 8K at Broadcast Convention

Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), which plans to start regular satellite broadcasting of 4K/8K content in December, will showcase its latest 8K technologies and new 8K content at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention, which opens tomorrow (April 7) in Las Vegas.

The Amazing Nature of Yellowstone, which explores the breathtaking scenery of the world-famous national park in 8K resolution, will be shown on a 350-inch screen along with a performance of the Nutcracker by Russia’s Mariinsky Ballet.

On the technology side, NHK will demonstrate a new transmission system that sends 8K video with audio over a single 10Gbps Ethernet cable using IP (Internet Protocol) signals to show how images can be transmitted with “low delay.” The system is capable of two-way transmission, which makes remote mixing at the broadcast station possible.

The Japanese broadcaster will also demonstrate a new high-speed 8K camera that shoots 240 frames per second (fps). The camera is said to capture fast-moving objects with less motion blur and is capable of 4x slow motion, making it ideal for sports. The IP-compatible MPEG Media Transport (MMT) distribution technology currently undergoing testing for 8K satellite broadcasting will also be on display. MMT is described as a multi-viewing system that can send multiple images to tablets in synchrony with TV broadcasts.

In addition, ultra-high-resolution 8K augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) applications that are said to far surpass current 2K VR systems will be highlighted.

X