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.
.jpeg)
ProAV convergence: From control rooms to experience centres
Broadcast and proAV technologies are converging, creating flexible experience centres that can serve remote and on-demand audiences from shared production infrastructure.
Beyond the broadcast: Creating modern, multi-platform experiences
As audiences move between television, mobile, social, and immersive platforms, media organisations must create connected experiences that expand engagement without multiplying production costs.
.jpg)
Streaming’s discovery problem: Who will fix viewing fragmentation?
As the number of services and viewing options has grown, audiences have more choice than ever. Yet, for viewers, finding something to watch is often still an exercise in frustration.
.jpg)
Call my agent: Agentic AI begins buying media advertising
AI agents have the potential to automate media transactions at scale, but today’s focus is less about fully autonomous workflows and more on experimentation and efficiencies.
.jpg)
NAB Show New York: The stakes could not be higher
As media, technology, and politics become increasingly intertwined, the stakes extend far beyond the balance sheet.
