KBS, SBS and MBC of Korea facilitate UHD Broadcast

Three South Korean broadcasters — Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) and Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) — have launched a terrestrial ATSC 3.0 broadcast network in the country to enable 4K/Ultra HD (UHD) broadcast.

Starting from the capital city of Seoul, which has already begun 4K/UHD transmission in May this year, South Korea will progressively roll out to other regions by the end of this year. And by next February, viewers will be able to enjoy the 2018 Winter Olympics Games in Pyeongchang in 4K/UHD over terrestrial networks.

Supporting South Korea’s transmission of 4K/UHD over the ATSC 3.0 standard is Rohde & Schwarz (R&S), who will supply a total of 31 transmitter systems across 11 locations. At the end of last year, for phase one of the project, which covered Seoul, R&S provided its THU9 liquid-cooled 5kW and 2kW transmitters to four SBS stations. In December, the R&S transmitter at the Kwanak station broadcast began the “first” ATSC 3.0 transmission.

For phase two, the three broadcasters will expand their networks to cover the metropolitan areas and the Olympic region. Similarly, R&S will supply the broadcasters with its 5kW and 2kW transmitters in customised configurations.

In the second phase, 27 transmitter systems in all will be put into operation by the end of this year. By 2020, South Korea aims to provide ATSC 3.0 coverage to 90% of the country.