2022 marked the 10th anniversary of the first significant public demonstration of 8K television when NHK and the BBC co-operated to present the London Olympic Games on 15-meter-wide screens in London, Glasgow, and Bradford, writes John Maxwell Hobbs.
Since that time, there has been widespread adoption of Ultra High Definition (UHD) television in the form of 4K, but widespread consumer adoption of 8K TV still remains an elusive target.
8K TV: 8K evolution
8K, also known as UHDTV-2, is 7680 pixels wide by 4320 pixels tall - sixteen times as many pixels as current 1080p HDTV. This is a similar level of detail to 70 mm IMAX film stock. However, UHD’s enhancements are not limited simply to pixel density. It also offers higher dynamic range and an expanded colour space in both its 4K and 8K flavours.
The first significant step on the road to 8K was in May of 2012 when NHK demonstrated the first UHD shoulder mounted camera. The Olympic games transmission followed shortly after and in August of that year, the ITU officially approved the UHDTV standard, incorporating both 4K and 8K resolutions.
The 10 years since then has seen significant consumer uptake of 4K – TV sets can be found for under £300 and there are a large number of 4K channels available. However, the story has not been the same for 8K. Sets that support the higher resolution made up only...
You are not signed in
Only registered users can read the rest of this article.
Behind the Scenes: Sentimental Value
The cracks in the inheritance of DNA, relatives, and property are at the heart of this critically acclaimed Norwegian tragicomedy.
Barbara Ford Grant: “A lot is happening behind closed doors”
In a world where production capability is ubiquitous and content costs nothing, creative vision is the only thing that matters, according to VFX pioneer and Hollywood consultant Barbara Ford Grant.
MWC 2026: Telcos confront the hard economics of 5G
With global 5G coverage now surpassing 50% of the world’s population, but consumer willingness to pay barely shifting, operators at MWC argued that the next chapter must be defined by utilisation.
Kickstart Day 2026: Latest PoCs and partnerships promise most exciting year yet
More than 200 industry leaders gathered at BBC Broadcasting House for the 2026 IBC Accelerators Kickstart Day, that took place on 25 February.
MIP London: “A lot of creators feel held hostage by algorithms”
Digital creators, television producers, platforms, distributors, buyers, and brands across all genres gathered at the IET and Savoy Hotel this week to attend the second-ever iteration of MIP in London.
