US cable giant Comcast says it will launch “unlimited virtual 4K linear channels” with streaming services later this year. Comcast already has a limited Ultra-HD offering via suitable 4K Samsung displays. Comcast says it will debut a new 4K set-top box, its Xi4 unit, later this year and further update the box (Xi5) in 2016 […]
SES and Samsung Electronics are demonstrating the first DVB transmission of High Dynamic Range UHD TV at the annual SES Industry Days in Luxembourg. The content will be transmitted via an SES satellite directly to a Samsung SUHDTV using the Hybrid Gamma (HDR) technology. The demonstration is claimed as a “major milestone for the Ultra HD […]
The National Geographic Channel (NGC) in Japan has produced its first 4K documentary, The Light: Illuminated by Shuji Nakamura in collaboration with NTT Plala and I-Cast running service Hikari-TV. The 4K version of the documentary is exclusively available on Hikari-TV’s VoD service free-of-charge. The HD version of the programme will air on NGC in Japan […]
India’s Videocon d2h pay-TV operator says it will be phasing out its standard-definition set-top boxes over the next year or so. Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera, speaking at the Asia-Pacific Video Operators Summit (APOS), said that the extra cost of manufacturing its HD STBs was just an extra $1 or so. There is also a […]
Amazon Prime customers in Germany can now download movies and TV series in Ultra-HD. Amazon has struck a deal with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment for a slew of Sony releases. An annual fee of €49 is charged for access, or individual titles can be paid for via Amazon’s Instant Video Store. Titles on offer include […]
Research company GfK says that the value of the UK Consumer Electronics market fell back in March in almost every sector, except for large-screens and just about anything with 4K on its label. GfK tracks ‘hard’ sales achieved at the Point of Sale in retail stores across the country. The non-movers were Car Navigation (down […]
Broadcom, a global player in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications, has announced it is the industry’s first to receive NAGRA NOCS3 certification for HEVC and Ultra HD STB systems-on-a-chip. The security architecture supports the latest in content protection, ensuring the delivery of premium content and services to multiple TVs and devices in the […]
Technical developments leading to the widespread, commercial deployment of 4K video delivery can become bogged down as the industry determines the standards and steps leading to the delivery of Ultra HD television. To maintain progress toward the goal, Envivio advises that video service providers should do the following: first, focus on HEVC for optimising existing […]
Sky UK is closing its dedicated 3D channel from June 9th, leaving viewers wanting 3D content having to download movies and programming via Sky’s on-demand service. Closing the channel is expected to help create extra satellite bandwidth for Sky’s planned 4K service. Sky’s brand director of TV Products, Luke Bradley-Jones explained: “From June, Sky 3D […]
One event largely unreported at the recent NAB show was a presentation by Japan’s NHK public broadcaster that referred to NHK’s ‘road map’ for the deployment of its 8K Super HiVision technology. NHK Executive Research Engineer Masayuki Sugawara, from NHK’s Science & Technology Research Laboratories, was explaining that NHK would start experimental transmissions of 8K/Super […]