How is the development of ultra-high-definition broadcasting abroad?

The noisy 2014 has finally passed. In this year, all TV manufacturers spared no effort to promote 4K ultra-high-definition TVs, and there have been constant voices of doubt, the most common of which is the "lack of 4K content." However, everyone has overlooked the importance of the most important content distribution channel, that is, ultra-high-definition broadcasting. In fact, even if ultra-high-definition TVs are popularized and 4K content is abundant, if there is no mature ultra-high-definition broadcasting system, 4K is still like cooking dumplings in a teapot - there is stock but it cannot be poured out.

Looking back at the history of 1080p full HD, Japan had already been broadcasting analog HD in the early 1990s, but China did not officially launch HD digital terrestrial broadcasting and HDTV channels until the eve of the 2008 Olympic Games, which fully illustrates the difficulty of upgrading the broadcasting system. Upgrading the broadcasting system from standard definition to high definition is not as simple as replacing a TV at home, but a major update of all related industrial chains, such as the equipment in TV stations and radio stations in various places needs to be replaced, the staff needs to be retrained, and even the set-top boxes in users' homes need to be replaced, etc. Correspondingly, the transition from full HD to 4K will also go through the same complex and lengthy process.

In the past year, 4K ultra-high definition has been talked about a lot. In addition to various TV manufacturers, there are also content producers such as LeTV and Sohu, but they are not able to make a difference in the distribution of ultra-high-definition content. Most media lack attention to the truly important 4K broadcasting, which also makes people lack understanding of this field. The author recently learned about the latest progress of ultra-high-definition broadcasting in various countries around the world in a research report of the "National Engineering Research Center for Digital Television", and made some edits for your reference.

Progress of Ultra-High Definition Broadcasting Transmission Technology in Various Countries

Ultra HD broadcasting is actually divided into two parts: "UHD transmission technology" and "UHD TV channels". Transmission technology is the basic research and development and construction, while TV channels are the scope of content production and operation. Traditional transmission technologies include satellite, terrestrial broadcasting, and cable networks. However, due to the development of Internet technology, Internet-based 4K distribution channels are developing particularly rapidly, which are divided into two methods: IPTV and video websites.

Satellite transmission has many unique advantages such as large bandwidth, high speed and wide coverage. Most operators tend to use this method to transmit ultra-high-definition signals. Therefore, satellite transmission tests started relatively early, and some leading satellite operators have completed relevant tests. In 2014, China, Malaysia, India, Luxembourg, Germany, Russia, Czech Republic and other countries successfully tested the transmission of 4K ultra-high-definition video via satellite signals. In February, Russia's NTV-Plus broadcast the opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics in 4K satellite; in April, Germany's Sky Broadcasting Company broadcast the Bundesliga in ultra-high-definition format via satellite signals. According to Japan's ultra-high-definition plan, Japan will launch a new satellite to transmit 4K TV signals during the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Transmitting signals by ground wave is the most familiar and convenient way for the Chinese people. Just set up an antenna on the upper floor, without buying a dish or an additional receiver. There are many transmission standards for terrestrial broadcasting, mainly Japan's ISDB-T, Europe's DVB-T and the United States' ATSC3.0. It is not yet known which one China will adopt in the future. Institutions such as Japan's Kansai TV, Czech CRa, France's HD Forum, Britain's BBC, and the United States' Technicolor successfully tested terrestrial ultra-high-definition broadcasting in 2014. Britain's BBC also broadcast the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games in ultra-high definition.

As for wired and optical fiber transmission, since ultra-high-definition wired transmission requires high bandwidth and the cost of laying lines is also relatively high, there are currently few such tests. In February 2013, Japan's KDDI and JCOM jointly developed a technology for transmitting ultra-high-definition images through cable TV, which can transmit 1080p, 4K and higher 8K. In the same year, Spain's Telefonica demonstrated the technology of transmitting 4K using 100M optical fiber, and the American Cable Television Laboratory demonstrated the technology of transmitting 4K ultra-high-definition through cable TV networks. In October 2014, Vodafone New Zealand successfully tested the transmission of 4K TV signals through submarine optical cables.

Using mature and universal Internet technology to transmit 4K video can share software and hardware equipment with telecom operators, avoiding duplication of construction. Many high-tech companies have already started work in this regard. In 2013, Japan's OKI Electric Industry successfully transmitted 4K ultra-high-definition TV programs from Singapore to Tokyo and the Philippines using IPv6 technology, with a video bit rate of up to 120Mbps. In April of the same year, China's Tianjin Internet Radio and Television Station tested 4K program broadcasting technology using IPTV broadband. In January and March 2014, YouTube and Elemental Technologies of the United States successively demonstrated Internet-based 4K streaming technology using VP9 and HEVC encoding technologies respectively.

Furthermore, in October 2014, Polish public broadcaster TVP trialled the transmission of 4K signals via HbbTV, a hybrid broadcasting technology that simultaneously transmits broadcast and internet data.

Global 4K Channel Development

On the one hand, the sales volume of 4K ultra-high-definition TVs has been steadily increasing. On the other hand, various ultra-high-definition transmission tests have been continuously successful. Some countries and regions have started 4K ultra-high-definition trial channels.

South Korea

In April 2014, the world's first ultra-high-definition cable TV channel U-max was launched in South Korea, broadcasting 100 ultra-high-definition content such as documentaries, animations, live concerts and sports events. In 2014, it plans to provide more than 200 hours of ultra-high-definition content and will invest 40 billion won in ultra-high-definition content production in 2016. In June of the same year, KT Skylife launched SkyUHD, South Korea's second 4K ultra-high-definition channel, and plans to officially realize full commercial use in 2015.

Japan

In June 2014, Japan began to test broadcast 4K programs on CS satellite TV, and will start 4K program test broadcast on BS satellite TV in 2016. In October of the same year, Japanese IPTV service provider NTT Plala officially launched its first 4K TV channel Hikari TV, providing 4K video on-demand service, which is the world's first commercial 4K/60p on-demand service. In addition, Japan's SKY Perfect JSAT will also open two channels dedicated to broadcasting 4K TV programs in 2015 and realize commercial use for the first time, providing live broadcasts of sports events such as the Japanese Professional Football League, live broadcasts of movies and music, etc. By then, Japan will have three 4K TV channels. According to Japan's ultra-high-definition plan, Japan will launch new satellites to transmit 4K TV signals during the 2016 Rio Olympics.

China

In August 2014, based on the cable 5G dual-ultra network, China's first cable 4K ultra-high-definition channel, Dalian Tiantu Cable Ultra-High-Definition Channel, was trial-broadcasted from August 11 to September 30, 2014. The main content of the trial broadcast phase included ultra-high-definition movies, documentaries, and landscape films. It is worth mentioning that in May 2014, LeTV also launched an Internet-based 4K on-demand service, including more than 260 4K movies and more 4K TV series, but it is limited to viewing on LeTV brand 4K TVs.

France

In January 2014, French satellite TV operator Eutelsat Communication launched the world's first 4K TV channel, providing ultra-high-definition programs such as documentaries, cultural and sports programs, etc. The company has also reached a cooperation with Asian satellite TV operator ST Telesport, planning to cover Southeast Asia and Australia with the 4K channel on the Eutelsat 70B satellite.

Russia

In February 2014, Russian satellite TV operator NTV-Plus broadcast the opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics in real time via 4K satellite for the first time. Subsequently, in July of the same year, Russia's Tricolor TV began trial broadcasting its first ultra-high-definition broadcast channel via two satellites, Eutelsat 36A and Eutelsat 36B, and plans to realize large-scale broadcasting of ultra-high-definition channels by spring 2015.

USA

In December 2014, DirecTV, a US cable operator, officially launched the 4K satellite DirecTV-14 for transmitting 4K movies and documentaries. DirecTV also plans to launch the first 4K channel in the US in 2015.

From the above information, we can understand that as an inevitable trend in television broadcasting technology, 4K ultra-high definition has attracted attention worldwide and is booming; on the other hand, we should also realize that 4K is still in the testing stage in almost all countries, and the 4K content in existing 4K channels is also very scarce.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.