4K Ultra HD in CEDIA Spotlight

Posted on October 1, 2014 in ATSC News

CEA Unveils new 4K Ultra HD logo program

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has just unveiled new logos to designate 4K Ultra High-Definition TVs, monitors, and projectors that meet the association’s voluntary core characteristics for 4K Ultra HD display products.

There’s been a healthy debate this year about what to call the new displays with more than 8 million pixels.  Ultra High Def or 4K? CEA’s Video Division Board, aligning with retailers and the content community, zeroed in on “4K Ultra HD” as the common industry nomenclature and approved the new logos last month.

The logos will be made available for voluntary use by manufacturers for product packaging, marketing materials and promotional activities. Two logos will be made available for use – 4K Ultra HD and “Connected” 4K Ultra HD Connected – mirroring CEA’s voluntary characteristics, which were designed to address various attributes of picture quality and help move toward interoperability, while providing clarity for consumers and retailers alike.

In July, CEA upwardly revised its sales forecast for 4K Ultra HD. CEA projects unit shipments of 4K Ultra HD displays to reach 800,000 units in 2014.

Meanwhile, new Ultra HD displays dazzled high-end integrators at the annual CEDIA Expo at the Denver Convention Center last month.

ATSC member Sony announced 4K projectors and displays designed to be controlled with IP signaling.  Sony also announced that it is opening its 4K media player to other brands of Ultra HDTV products with the latest connectivity and content protection specifications.  Sony’s ultra-short throw, three 4K laser projector can be placed up against a wall and create an image as large as 147 inches.

ATSC member LG Electronics has 16 4K Ultra HDTV products in its line this year, and at CEDIA LG announced availability and pricing for new 65-inch and 77-inch 4K OLED TV’s.  LG also showed a curved 105-inch OLED 4K Ultra HD model that carries a suggested retail price of $99,999.  LG is predicting that 3 million Ultra HDTV sets will be sold in 2015, with industry sales expected to double the following year.

Tim Alessi, director of new product development LG Electronics USA and Thomas Lee, senior vice president of LG Electronics USA observe the rich color vibrancy of LG’s 105-inch Ultra HD 4K TV (model 105UC9) at the CEDIA Expo 2014.

Posted in ATSC News