Signs of life for 8K
May 1, 2025
Japanese public broadcaster NHK is currently the only TV broadcaster transmitting 8K material. It transmits 8K on its BS8K satellite service which launched with much fanfare on December 1st 2018. NHK calls its 8K transmissions as ‘Super Hi-Vision’. Now, despite a slow take-up of the formate, Warner Bros has scanned a selection of classic movies into 8K.
In 2019 NHK showcased My Fair Lady, the celebrated Lerner & Lowe musical, at the Cannes MIPCOM market to a packed audience on a massive 8K television screen. More recently at NAB 2025 in Las Vegas, Warner Bros updated delegates with its latest information and said that to date it had scanned 20 movies, mostly originally shot in large film 65 and 70mm formats, and – like My Fair Lady – filmed in 1964 and restored 30 years later in 1995 for a 4K Blu-Ray release.
“Warner Bros said that it has scanned around 20 films in 8K in recent years. Each film is scanned at 4K or 8K depending on the visible difference,” wrote the 8K Association. The studio is using the Lasergraphics Director scanner, which supports resolutions up to 13.5K and can handle film formats up to 70mm.
No specific titles were confirmed, reported FlatpanelsHD, but Warner Bros has previously partnered with Samsung to showcase 8K movie trailers for Creed III, Barbie, Blue Beetle, Dune: Part Two, Wonka and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. However, most, if all of these, were shot digitally.
NHK continues to transmit in 8K including its coverage of the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup football.