Advanced 4K and 8K, This Will Be DTT Soon

Having a 4K TV, and even an 8K model, is something quite common in our country. Sales of these televisions have exploded in recent years. However, this movement has not been accompanied by an explosion of content adapted to this resolution. Yes, it is true that we have more than a few years ago, but it is also true that, both on DTT and on pay platforms, channels are still being broadcast in standard definition (not even in HD). Technology is not the problem, since it allows it, but today we know the next leap that prepares DTT with a new standard to offer advanced 4K and 8K soon .

The landing of the UHD Spain channel on DTT has been a ray of hope for those of us who have been demanding improvements in this free television service for years. It is not acceptable that, in the middle of 2021, we continue to suffer with very low quality broadcasts and with an offer of HD channels that is not massive . We don’t even talk about 4K anymore.

Advanced 4K and 8K

From what it seems, as of January 1, 2023, all channels must broadcast in HD as published in the latest DTT Technical Plan . What we still do not know is if we will have to switch to DVB-T2, present in practically all new televisions, or if we will continue to squeeze DVB-T despite the disadvantages. If you want to promote 4K, as this document also indicates, your thing would be to make the leap in technology, but in Spain anything can happen.

DVB works on new specifications for DTT

The DVB Project has started work on the commercial requirements for the next generation video codecs that will be part of the massive 4K and 8K landing on terrestrial television broadcasts. Now they are starting a process to technically validate the codecs and to decide which one will be chosen, going on to develop preliminary specifications for this new technology. The candidate video codecs are AV1, AVS3, and VVC , each with advantages and disadvantages, but all up for the challenge.

Peter MacAvock, president of the DVB Project, explained that they are pioneers in this type of system and that they are working to bring 4K and 8K in the future . He encourages the rest of the companies in this sector to join his work and thus open new paths in television technology. Be that as it may, what they are looking for is, in addition to improving quality, getting better accessibility and customization options.

Among the advantages of these codecs is their greater efficiency, which allows more channels, more range and less cost, in addition to a more flexible distribution. The resolution will go up to 7680 × 4320 pixels with technologies like HDR and HFR. These codecs improve HEVC bandwidth for 4K channels by up to 30%. Unfortunately, the first specifications will not arrive until 2022 and we will still have to wait a bit for its massive landing.

Source> DVB