The BBC are set to use the upcoming 2012 Olympics in London to test out a new video standard called “Super Hi-Vision”, which is said to be 16 times better in picture quality than HDTV, despite the technology is expected to not come out to consumers for a decade.
The BBC plans to launch three screens around the UK that are 15 metres high in order to showcase the technology. The locations will be in its Pacific Quay building in Glasgow, Broadcasting House in London and in the National Media Museum in Bradford (the latter subject to talks).
“When you sit and watch it you really get the experience of being in seat D5 in the stadium,” Roger Mosey, the person in charge of its coverage for the Olympics, told The Guardian newspaper. “Super hi-vision might be a better long-term prospect than 3D in some ways as it gives you the feel of being in the stadium. People are knocked out by it.”
“Super Hi-Vision”, or also known as Ultra High Definition Television, is being tested out by the BBC and public broadcaster NHK in Japan, who also originally developed the idea. The format has already been trialled, with a broadcast of a performance by UK band The Charlatans broadcast live, using the Internet in order to send the transmission.
Why? Well, because it would be too expensive if it was through traditional satellite, as seen by this BBC clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtSasGs12dM
The BBC also announced it will also broadcast in 3D – so expect Nine and Foxtel to follow suit. However, the BBC will only broadcast a small number in 3D via their HD channel as it does not want to disrupt any programming, plus the people watching 3D content at home is relativity minimal.