BBC and NHK prep Super Hi-Vision Olympics

The BBC and NHK are planning to show the upcoming London Summer Olympics in Super Hi-Vision, a new ultra high definition TV format, at public screenings in the UK and Japan.

The UK and Japanese public broadcasters will show Super Hi-Vision footage, which is 16 times the resolution (7,680×4,320) of regular high definition, in selected venues in both countries and the US.

The opening and closing ceremonies and other high-profile events will be covered in the format, which has been developed by NHK.

A combined BBC and NHK crew is already filming pre-event footage in Super Hi-Vision in London.

“The London 2012 Olympic Games will be the first to be captured in Super Hi-Vision – using the only Super Hi-Vision equipment in the world,” Tim Plyming, the project lead for the BBC’s Super Hi-Vision trials said in a blog post yesterday.

He added: “Three cameras will capture sporting action from the Olympic Stadium, Aquatic Centre, Velodrome and Basketball Arena. Alongside highlight packages, we will be showing live coverage of the opening and closing ceremonies, the 100m final live as well as a whole day of action from the Aquatic Centre.”

In the UK, people will be able to see the coverage at screenings at Broadcasting House in London, Pacific Quay in Glasgow and the National Media Museum in the city of Bradford. In Japan the screenings will be held in Fukushima and Tokyo. There will also be screenings in the US city of Washington