The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has approved Japanese broadcaster NHK’s Super Hi-Vision system as the standard for 8K video. The format proposal was unopposed by other broadcasters during a consultation period, which allowed the ITU to send letters to its members late last week, confirming it as the adopted standard.
Super Hi-Vision consists of a broadcast at a resolution of 7,680 by 4,320 pixels at a rate of 60 frames per second, although NHK hopes to turn it into 120 fps. At present, NHK has developed three cameras capable of recording Super Hi-Vision video, the result of which is said by the company to “reproduce the feeling of life, and offer a sense of being present.”
Although the standard has been decided upon, it is unlikely to appear in living rooms in the near future, as NHK will not commence its first experimental broadcasts until the year 2020.
The lower-resolution (but still more than three times higher than the current 1080p standard) 4K format has seen some considerable traction in recent months. The Sony PlayStation 4 is rumored to be supporting the format on its release, while 4K TVs have already gone on sale in Korea for $17,000. Although 4K TV broadcasts have not been widespread — except for occasions such as during the London 2012 Olympic Games — digital cameras capable of recording in the resolution have been unveiled.
