Japan targets 33-megapixel broadcast by 2015
That's 16 times the resolution of today's 1080p panels.
Even before full-HD reaches mainstream, the Japanese government is already embarking on an ambitious joint project to develop the next-generation high-definition TV system. Dubbed Super Hi-Vision or 8K, this new visual technology boasts 7,680x4,320-pixel or 33-megapixel clarity. That's 16 times the resolution of today's 1080p panels and a fourfold enhancement over the latest commercial 4K displays. The latter, in fact, is barely making its presence felt in Asian cineplexes with Spiderman 3 being one of the first 4K movie releases.
Japan's communication ministry is expected to inject 300 million yen ($2.7 million) into research and development, leading up to a scheduled 8K broadcast as early as 2015, Engadget says. But the real question is whether there's a need for such resolution on our average 40- to 50-inch TVs. Perhaps everyone will have a 100-incher in their living room by then.
| Format | Resolution | Pixel count | Pixel count |
| Standard definition | 720 x 480 | 345,600 | 0.3 |
| High definition | 1,280 x 720 | 921,600 | 0.9 |
| Full high definition | 1,920 x 1,080 | 2,073,600 | 2.1 |
| 4K | 4,096 x 2,160 | 8,847,360 | 8.8 |
| 8K / Super Hi-Vision | 7,680 x 4,320 | 33,177,600 | 33.2 |
Pixel count at a glance
(Source: Crave Asia)