Japanese pubcaster launching 8K in 2020

Japanese public broadcaster NHK will launch a full 8K service in 2020 to coincide with the Tokyo Olympics.

As producers and broadcasters get to grips with the 4K format, NHK is pushing ahead with the even higher resolution standard. 8K gives a picture with 16 times the resolution of standard high definition TV and four times that of 4K.

The Japanese pubcaster has a history of being at the forefront of new TV technology and said test broadcasts will start in 2016 before the roll out of a full service four years later.

NHK will demonstrate its 8K service at the NAB technology show in Las Vegas next month. It successfully tested terrestrial 8K broadcasts in January.