Panasonic and Sony will partner with Japanese broadcaster NHK and others to develop 8K TVs, according to a report from Nikkei. The goal is to have 8K TVs on the market in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

A Japanese TV alliance
Japan’s public service broadcaster NHK carried out test broadcasts in glorious 8K resolution during the just-concluded Rio Olympics, and aims to broadcast the full 2020 Tokyo Olympics in 8K.

To realize this goal NHK, Sony, Panasonic, and other Japanese companies have formed an “an all-Japanese alliance”, reports Nikkei. Together they will develop technology for TVs capable of processing and reproducing 8K resolution (7680x4320 pixels), which has four times as many pixels as 4K and sixteen times as many as Full HD.


Sony and Panasonic are reportedly motivated to cooperate in an effort to reclaim market share lost to South Korean and Chinese rivals. Together they hope to bring down development costs, too. Smaller companies working with data compression, sound, and picture processor technology will also be brought onto the team.

Sony plans to roll out 8K TVs in 2020, the report said. Panasonic did not give a specific date but will launch them in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Both companies are also expected to launch other consumer products with support for 8K, including cameras.

Sharp demonstrated the first 8K TV in 2011 and launched the first consumer model in 2015. Samsung and LG have also exhibited 8K TVs at trade shows in recent years and are expected to launch their first consumer 8K TVs later this year or in 2017.

- Source: Nikkei