Advanced Television

UHD

Japan: NHK delays 8K channel decision

NHK says it is postponing any decision on how its 8K broadcast channel will be structured until after next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo. As reported last week, NHK has now confirmed plans to merge its satellite-based BS1, BS Premium and BS4K channels into two channels, and then to integrate them into one single channel. […]

August 6, 2020By Chris Forrester

Toshiba launches new 4K TV with Alexa

Toshiba TV has launched its all-new flagship Alexa built-in model, the 4K HDR UK4B, is available from in 43-inch, 50-inch and 58-inch screen sizes in the UK. The new Toshiba model offers a 4K HDR experience, powered by Toshiba TV’s TRU Picture Engine, plus Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and Sound by Onkyo Bart Kuijten, Commercial […]

August 6, 2020

Canada: Bell unveils 4K HDR streaming device

Canadian multiplay operator Bell has revealed its latest TV innovation with the launch of Bell Streamer, an all-in-one 4K HDR streaming device powered by Android TV that enables customers to bring all their favourite live TV, movies and on demand content directly to their big screens with Alt TV and the top streaming services and […]

August 5, 2020

NHK to cut satellite TV channels; 8K at risk

Japanese publicly-funded broadcaster NHK has frequently been criticised for its number of TV channels as providing unfair competition to the country’s private stations. Now it is set to trim the number of satellite TV channels available. NHK will cut two of its satellite channels, down from four. This means it will consolidate the current BS1, […]

August 4, 2020By Chris Forrester

SMPTE: “Optimism for 8K despite no Olympics”

A report from standards body SMPTE quotes Chris Chinnock, president of Insight Media and the executive director of the 8K Association, as saying that 2020 was going to be the big year for 8K transmission because of the Tokyo Olympic Games. “That was going to be the premier event, all kinds of new equipment was […]

July 29, 2020By Chris Forrester

Germany: Vestel integrates HD+ into UHD TVs

Multi-brand TV manufacturer, Vestel, is set to offer direct access to HD+ on a wide selection of UHD TVs for the German market. From September, selected UHD TVs with built-in HD+ will be available under popular brand names, such as Toshiba, Telefunken, JVC, and Hitachi. Vestel is the third major manufacturer to deliver its UHD […]

July 24, 2020

Insight TV expands distribution in Russia & CIS with Tricolor

In a move that will significantly expand its distribution footprint in Russia and CIS markets, Insight TV has signed a distribution deal with Tricolor multi-platform operator, Russia’s largest DTH operator. Insight TV’s HD feed is now available on Tricolor’s DTH platform, as well as on the Tricolor Kino and TV application for OTT customers. “Being […]

July 20, 2020

Sky Q upgrade as Disney+ goes HDR

Sky Q is adding a raft of new features in the biggest change to the set-top-box since launch. A new expanded view UI, new show and sports centres, intuitive smart buttons and improved voice discovery will make it easier for users to browse, find and watch content. It’s HDR content is also growing, with Disney+ […]

July 8, 2020

H.266 ‘to cut 4K streaming data by half’

A new video-encoding standard that promises to cut data use by at least half has been formally unveiled, after three years of development and negotiations. It is claimed H.266 should make it possible for slow connections to stream in higher quality than before, without pauses for buffering. It could also pave the way for on-demand […]

July 8, 2020

Sony & Panasonic sue Samsung over OLED patents

Japan’s JOLED, the joint-venture between the OLED divisions of Sony and Panasonic, is suing Samsung Electronics and its subsidiaries in the US and German courts and alleging patent infringements on the joint venture’s organic light-emitting diode panel technologies. The US lawsuit accuses Samsung and its Samsung Electronics America subsidiary as well as Samsung Display of […]

June 25, 2020By Chris Forrester