NHK launched 4K and 8K channels!

NHK finally launched the satellite broadcasting of 4K and 8K Super Hi-Vision on December 1, 2018. The channels are called “NHK BS4K” and “NHK BS8K”. The launch of 8K channel is the world’s first, for which NHK Science & Technology Research Laboratories (STRL) has been leading the R&D and standardization for more than 20 years. After the countdown, a test color-bar pattern on the 8K TV screen was replaced at exactly 10 am with brand-new ultra-high definition 8K images along with immersive 22.2 multichannel sound.

To promote the two new channels, a special event “Broadcasting Starts on December 1st! 4K/8K Super Hi-Vision Park" was held at an event hall in Shibuya, Tokyo from November 30 to December 4. NHK STRL brought “8K Living Room” and “8K×22.2ch Acoustic Home Theater Experience” exhibitions to the event — which provided a viewing experience of 8K broadcasts in a home setting. Also, on December 1st, NHK STRL held an event at the entrance hall of STRL building to give a demonstration of receiving the BS4K and BS8K channels. Many viewers gathered and enjoyed a special opening program, which includes live feed from Roman Forum and Pantheon in Rome, Italy, and a remastered 8K version of the classic movie “2001: A Space Odyssey.”

NHK BS8K is now being broadcast for about 12 hours per day. A wide range of programs, such as entertainment, art, documentary and sports, are covered, which are exclusively produced for the 8K channel in the world’s highest quality, providing faithful representations of the scenes and artifacts and highly immersive experiences to the viewers. NHK BS4K, which NHK defines as a gateway channel for ultra-high definition visual images, basically provides familiar programs to HD channels in true 4K quality for 18 hours per day.

Other major TV networks in Japan have also launched 4K channels, and we expect 4K and 8K Super Hi-Vision viewing will become widespread around 2020 in Japan.