Japan to launch 4K HD broadcast

Japanese government will launch 4K ultra high-definition broadcasting this month via the country’s communication satellite digital broadcasting. The 4K signals will be moved to broadcast satellites in 2016.

The Japanese government began piloting the service for 4K broadcasting in June 2014 on Channel 4K which is operated by Next Generation Television and Broadcasting Promotion Forum (NexTVF).

Initially, Japan planned to launch 4K broadcasts in 2016. Now that the launch has been brought forward, Japan will have a significant competitive advantage in the 4K broadcast space.

The Japanese ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications decided to transmit the first broadcasts via the Japan’s communication satellites rather than direct broadcast satellites as the new format requires more bandwidth than current high-definition broadcasts.