Has Ultra HD’s Time Truly Come?

Today at IBC, SES CCO Ferdinand Kayser mentioned Ultra HD in an SES presentation and then again in discussions with FIFA TV executive Niclas Ericson, during which he did not rule out the possibility of Ultra HD broadcasts for the 2014 FIFA World Cup tournament in Brazil. There is certainly a great deal of excitement about these broadcasts, not only from a quality standpoint, but what it might mean for the satellite industry. But, considering the amount of change that is currently happening in broadcasting and the recent take-up of 3-D TV, it would be wise to be careful about the prospects for Ultra HD.
   Yes, the picture quality is fantastic, but the investment in new equipment will not come cheap and while it is a different technology to 3-D TV, it remains to be seen whether it will strike a chord with potential consumers – something 3-D TV has admittedly struggled to achieve.
   It seems likely that the first Ultra HD broadcasts will likely be around a major sporting event such as the World Cup or the Olympics, which interestingly means Latin America could be at the forefront of the evolution. SES certainly seemed excited about it, as it was major part of a presentation. As a technology-based industry, we can sometimes get fixated on the next big advancement before realizing that it will be customers that ultimately decide whether or not it will be a worthwhile investment. Fortunately, there is an undeniable buzz about Ultra HD at IBC and it is much more of a topic of conversation than in years past. With companies like SES making bullish predictions about when we might see Ultra HD forecasts, it seems the future is perhaps coming quicker than we imagined. Lets hope it lives up to the hype this time.