Winter Olympics to showcase first 8K HDR broadcasts

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While 4K broadcasts will be readily available for some consumers, it might be a struggle to see the 8K pictures...

You can't beat a big sporting event when it comes to pushing forward TV technology - and the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics look set to be no different. The 2018 Winter Games, which begin on Friday 9th February, look set to deliver the largest ever live 8K production. Yes, we said 8K TV.

Not only that, the 8K video from Pyeongchang will also feature HDR, in what's claimed to be a world first for a broadcast of this scale. The IBC reports around 90 hours of content will be captured in 8K HDR using the HLG format, which was developed by Japanese broadcaster NHK and the BBC.

And yes, some people will be watching it. Just not many. NHK will be broadcasting the footage to a number of 8K theatres in Japan, and there will also be a theatre in the International Broadcast Centre showing the 8K feed.

As well as serving as a testing ground for future broadcasts, the 8K feed will be down-converted on site to provide the 4K HDR output for this year's event. This 4K video will be taken by a number of broadcasters, including DirecTV, the Dish Network and NBC in the US. DirecTV Is even serving its on-demand 4K HDR coverage with Dolby Atmos sound for those with the means (i.e. an Atmos speaker set-up or soundbar) to enjoy it.

As for the UK, the Winter Games are being broadcast in HD by the BBC and Eurosport. Will 4K pictures from the Winter Games appear on BBC iPlayer at some point? There's no word as yet. All we do know is that iPlayer is certainly where any 4K BBC broadcasts will appear - we might just have to wait for this summer's football World Cup for live 4K content (we hope).

So while we may have to wait to see the Olympics in all their glory, these tests can only be a step in the right direction when it comes to getting better quality TV broadcasts in our front rooms - whether that be 4K, 8K, HDR or otherwise.

Read more:

8K TV - everything you need to know

HDR TV: What is it? How can you get it?

2018 Winter Olympics to be made available in 4K HDR

Get ready: 8K TV is on its way

5 things we learned watching Planet Earth II on Ultra HD Blu-ray

Joe Cox
Joe Cox
Content Director

Joe is the Content Director for What Hi-Fi? and Future’s Product Testing, having previously been the Global Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-Fi?. He has worked on What Hi-Fi? across the print magazine and website for almost 20 years, writing news, reviews and features on everything from turntables to TVs, headphones to hi-fi separates. He has covered product launch events across the world, from Apple to Technics, Sony and Samsung; reported from CES, the Bristol Show, and Munich High End for many years; and written for sites such as the BBC, Stuff, and the Guardian. In his spare time, he enjoys expanding his vinyl collection and cycling (not at the same time).