4K/8K (UHD-1)/UHD-2) Production Studios for UHDTV Broadcasting

Abstract

In anticipation of the advent of UHD-1 (4K)/UHD-2 (8K) broadcasting in Japan, we developed ultrahigh-definition TV (UHDTV) studios to promote UHD content. Regarding UHD-1/4K productions, it was necessary to adapt to simultaneous production of 2K and 4K programs to achieve an efficient workflow. Thus, we used 12G-SDI (SMPTE ST 2082), which is highly compatible with the 2K equipment, and developed a realtime transform device and control system to simultaneously produce high-quality content in International Telecommunication Union-Rec.2020/HDR (high dynamic range) and Rec.709/SDR (standard dynamic range). We designed the transform algorithm based on our studies and experience. Also, to overcome the high bitrate issues of UHD-2/8K, we introduced a mezzanine compression approach in the 8K studio. To interface with various devices, a serial digital interface/internet protocol (SDI/IP) hybrid system was adopted in the studio, where we can produce programs of the highest quality in the world. We discuss the key points of the novel studio designs and highlight certain challenges to be addressed in the future.