LG's 84-inch 4K Ultra Definition 3D TV. Photo: AFP
For consumers who have already purchased a 4K UHD TV the
announcement is good news. With the exception of Sony -- which is currently bundling UHD content with its range-topping XBR-84X900 and which confirmed at this year's CES that it will be setting up a dedicated 4k UHD delivery system due to launch in the US this summer -- there is very little currently available that can bring these TVs and their huge displays to life, aside from some 4K-ready content on YouTube or self-shot footage on a number of high-end and sports cameras, such as the Go Pro Hero 3, which can film in 4K, if only at 14 frames a second.
Eutelsat Communications will be broadcasting at the full 50 frames a second for the full ultra-high-definition experience, but there is one caveat; the content is mostly demonstration-based programming. The channel is expected to serve as proof of concept and as a workshop for other broadcasters and TV industry organizations so that they can develop their own ultra-high definition offerings and business plans in time for when the technology and its adoption become more widespread.