Super Hi-Visionput through its paces atLondon Games
As NHK subjects Super Hi-Vision to its latest test, practical production issues and audience research are being evaluated by the BBC. Adrian Pennington reports
A LIVE mixing and editing platform is among the innovations planned for the Super Hi-Vision (SHV) production of the London Olympics by Japanese broadcaster NHK. A new lightweight camcorder is also being previewed (see below) but not used in the trials. The transmission of select live
and recorded events is being made by NHK in concert with the BBC and Olympics Broadcasting Services and is
multiple areas and screening techniques for public venues. “The trial should provide us with plenty of know-how about producing content and screening formats,” said Dr Keiichi Kubota, director- general of science and technology research labs at NHK. “The public viewings will hopefully give people a good taste of what SHV can offer, and have us moving in the same direction for broadcasts of the future.”
Panasonic has allied with NHK to develop a 145-inch 8K (7860x4320) plasma, one of which shows SHV London 2012 content in a VIP screening room at the Olympic IBC
“We are steadily reducing the size of camera and have also developed larger capacity terrestrial transmission which has enabled us to carry out the first-ever field experience”
being shown via JVC/NHK- built 8K (7,680 x 4,320 resolution) projectors at public theatres on over 50ft tall screens in Bradford (National Media Museum), London (New Broadcasting House), Glasgow (Pacific Quay), Japan and Washington DC. For NHK the objective is to
prove a number of technologies such as programme production with live relays, transmission over global IP networks, feeds to
NHK is pursuing R&D
covering all aspects of SHV broadcasts, from programme production to broadcasting facilities, as well as SHV TV sets for the home and is keen to produce a major arts event for its next live test. “We are steadily reducing the
size of camera and have also developed larger capacity terrestrial transmission which has enabled us to carry out the first-ever field experience
Dr Keiichi Kubota
of the terrestrial SHV transmission,” said Kubota. “We have devised image sensors for SHV cameras to capture fast-moving objects more clearly at 120fps with the ultimate objective of perfecting a 120Hz frame rate. And we have developed a high frame- rate SHV projector.” The current Super Hi-Vision system relies on a 60Hz dual- green format, but NHK wants to maximise the potential to
a 7,680x4,320 x RGB/YC, 120Hz format. “Our ultimate goal for SHV is to achieve its full potential standard-wise with a 120Hz frame rate and a wide-gamut system,” explained Kubota. “The standard was tentatively adopted at the ITU-R in April, and we are in the process of getting it approved.” The UltraHD TV standard in
process of ratification at the ITU is SMPTE2036-1 (MPEG H.265 HEVC) which provides for a 120Hz frame rate.
Household screens NHK is also founder member of the Future of Broadcast TV (FoBTV) project which recognised UltraHDTV as an effective application for future terrestrial broadcasts. “We hope SHV will be adopted across
For audio, 22.2-channel point recording microphones capture sound for mixing in a separate audio relay vehicle and on an audio mixing board that can output 22.2 channels
the world via FoBTV,” said Kubota. “Hopefully, we will be able to come up with the first- ever uniform standard for terrestrial telecasts.” There are a number of technical challenges lying ahead of the proposed 2015 domestic test transmission and a 2020 commercial launch (which may happily coincide with the 2020 Summer Olympics if Tokyo wins the bid). Among the difficulties are overcoming rain