Japan targets 33-megapixel broadcast by 2015

(Credit: Crave Asia)

Even before full-HD reaches mainstream, the Japanese government is already embarking on an ambitious joint project to develop the next-generation high-definition TV system. Dubbed Super Hi-Vision or 8K, this new visual technology boasts 7,680x4,320-pixel or 33-megapixel clarity. That's 16 times the resolution of today's 1080p panels and a fourfold enhancement over the latest commercial 4K displays. The latter, in fact, is barely making its presence felt in Asian cineplexes with Spiderman 3 being one of the first 4K movie releases.

Japan's communication ministry is expected to inject 300 million yen ($2.7 million) into research and development, leading up to a scheduled 8K broadcast as early as 2015, Engadget says. But the real question is whether there's a need for such resolution on our average 40- to 50-inch TVs. Perhaps everyone will have a 100-incher in their living room by then.

Format	Resolution	Pixel count	Pixel count
Standard definition	720 x 480	345,600	0.3
High definition	1,280 x 720	921,600	0.9
Full high definition	1,920 x 1,080	2,073,600	2.1
4K	4,096 x 2,160	8,847,360	8.8
8K / Super Hi-Vision	7,680 x 4,320	33,177,600	33.2

Pixel count at a glance

(Source: Crave Asia)

[baennis]

I welcome 33-megapixels

It amazes me how you bloggers/journalist who are supposed to be receptive on cutting edge technologies can be so myopic to new technologies that improve on current tech. When high def TV's first appeared you guys downplayed the need for buying one now because as you termed it there was no content. How short sighted. As if someone buying the technology does it for the short term. Walla two years later we have 1080p content in the form of HD-DVD and blue ray. Poor ill-advised early purchasers of the lower def TV's.
Now that 1080p is here everyone's touting FULL HD. Who do you guys work for the manufacturers?
I just purchased a Pioneer Pro 150hd plasma and am very impressed with full HD content as it is more vibrant in color and resolution than my Sony xbr TV. I just imagine how much sharper and life like the video would be if the resolution was twice as high or higher than current 1080p.
I would welcome and definately buy a 33 megapixel TV when they are available in the US.