Advanced Television

Ultra-HD/4K

Sony updates Bravia 4K displays

Sony Japan is making available a software update for its Bravia X-range of 4K displays. The upgrade means that the giant TV sets can now handle HDMI v2.0 connectivity.  Sony has two X-models in the market measuring 55” (X8) and 65” (X9).  As yet there are no instructions on whether the update is available to […]

November 29, 2013By Chris Forrester

YouTube ‘ready for 4k’

Google’s YouTube is to migrate all the videos on YouTube to its V9 compression standard as it prepares for 4K, according to Matt Frost, head of strategy and partnerships for Google Chrome. Frost told OTTtv World Summit, “4K is the new 3D,” but device makers don’t want to repeat mistakes with a lack of content. […]

November 20, 2013

Eutelsat celebrates creativity, and Ultra-HD

Eutelsat’s annual TV Awards, which took place in a star-studded Venice gala on November 15th, celebrated what CEO Michel de Rosen said were the ‘best of the best’ in terms of TV channels carried on the Eutelsat fleet. But the evening also showcased the latest Ultra-HD/4K TV, and where Eutelsat announced a joint venture with […]

November 18, 2013By Chris Forrester

RAI, Eutelsat to shoot documentary in Ultra HD

Italian public broadcaster RAI, via its Strategic Technologies unit, has teamed up with Eutelsat Italia on a project to experiment with recording in the 4K Ultra-HD standard. ”Rome, Naples, Venice … in a Rossini Crescendo” is the name of a documentary that will be shot in Ultra-HD, which will explore thecultural beauties of Italian cities […]

November 15, 2013From Branislav Pekic in Rome

CEA, DEG partner for Ultra HD promotion

US trade bodies the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and the Digital Entertainment Group (DEG) are teaming up to help develop and promote Ultra HD televisions and compatible products as well as 4K content for the home entertainment industries. The announcement came during a conference on Ultra HD held in conjunction with CES Unveiled New York, […]

November 13, 2013By Colin Mann

A 4K future

By Noel Mckenna Vice President of Sales EMEA + India, Entropic HEVC and 4K were the hottest topics at September’s IBC event in Amsterdam, and will continue to be of high interest as we move into 2014. But we must ask ourselves, could HEVC and 4K fall into the same false start trap that the […]

November 12, 2013

SES: 4K/Ultra-HD schedule

Romain Bausch, CEO at Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES, was very specific on the likely roll-out of 4K/Ultra-HD services. Speaking to analysts following on from its November 8th results, Bausch said SES was extremely confident about 4K happening. While test services are already up and running on its satellites, Bausch said that he expected 4K broadcasts […]

November 11, 2013By Chris Forrester

RAI teams with Valle d’Aosta for 3D, 4K trials

Italian public broadcaster RAI and the Autonomous Region of Valle d’Aosta have signed an agreement for technological trials of video recording in 3D and 4K and the introduction of multi-screen applications for citizens and SMEs. Under this Agreement, to be implemented by RAI’s Strategic Technologies Directorate, audiovisual productions will be filmed with innovative formats (3D, […]

November 11, 2013From Branislav Pekic in Rome

4K TVs in 10% N American homes by 2018

Asia-Pacific, notably, China, is expected to lead 4K (or Ultra HD) TV unit shipments according to ABI Research’s First Screen Video Devices and Cloud Video and Video Hardware Research Services. However, the North American market is anticipated to be the first region to eclipse 5 per cent (in 2017) and 10 per cent (by end […]

November 8, 2013

DirecTV: “We will be ready for 4K”

DirecTV’s CEO Mike White told analysts during the company’s Q3 earnings call that the broadcaster was working on the kinds of technology needed to deliver a 4K experience to its customers, but was also cautious as to its implementation.  “From all those I talked to, both on the content side and on the distributor side, […]

November 7, 2013By Chris Forrester