ITU unveils “dawn of a new age for television” UHDTV standard

The ITU has released a new recommendation that it says will serve as the basis for a standard for ultra high-definition television (UHDTV).

The draft standard, developed by the ITU Radiocommunications Sector’s Study Group 6, has been submitted to ITU administrations for approval. The recommendation lays out a two-step process for the development of UHDTV. The first level of UHDTV picture levels has the equivalent of about 8 megapixels (3 840 x 2 160 image system), more commonly known as 4K, and the next level comes with the equivalent of about 32 megapixels (7 680 x 4 320 image system), more commonly known as 8K.

ITU secretary-general Hamadoun Touré said: “UHDTV is an earth-shaking development in the world of television,” Dr Touré said. “Watching UHDTV in the near future will be a breath taking experience, and I look forward to it.”

David Wood, chairman of ITU-R Working Party 6C (WP 6C), which developed the draft new recommendation, said: “This is the dawn of a new age for television that will bring unprecedented levels of realism and viewer enjoyment. It’s a historic moment.  Some years will pass before we see these systems in our homes, but come they will.  The die is now cast, thanks to the untiring efforts of the international experts participating in WP6C.”