Plenary talk: Wireless transmission technology for ultra-high-definition television

摘要

Digital satellite broadcasting and digital terrestrial broadcasting have been launched in 2000 and 2003, respectively. Through these developments, the digital HDTV broadcasting spread out widely across Japan. In parallel, NHK has been advancing research and development of 8K Super Hi-Vision — ultra high-definition TV (UHDTV) surpassing the resolution of HDTV. 8K images are composed of horizontal resolution of 7,680 pixels and vertical resolution of 4,320 pixels, resulting in 16 times the information of HDTV. For Super Hi-Vision sound, three-dimensional (3D) audio is composed of 22.2 channels. 8K Super Hi-Vision gives the audience a highly realistic sensation as if they are at the scene through high-capacity video and 3D surround sound. It has been more than twenty years since research and development of 8K Super Hi-Vision began in 1995. During this time, NHK has developed a variety of Super Hi-Vision-related technologies, such as cameras, displays, audio equipment, recording equipment, and transmission systems. In 2016, we began trial 8K broadcasting via a broadcasting satellite using these technologies. Furthermore, we plan to begin full-fledged broadcasting in 2018. In this address, I will give an overview of 8K Super Hi-Vision, which continues to evolve, and introduce the road map for the start of actual broadcasting. I will also introduce recent technologies for the wireless UHDTV transmission systems developed by NHK to date.