Japan planning world’s first 4K/Ultra HD live broadcast for the 2014 World Cup

By Adam Poltrack January 29, 2013

Global events like the World Cup have long been a proving ground for cutting-edge technologies. Last time around, we saw the beautiful game in 3-D. But according to Reuters, World Cup 2014, will be broadcast in 4K/Ultra HD.

Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications says it will deliver the cup in the nascent format by using free capacity on its communications satellites, favoring this method over the use of standard broadcast satellites. Apparently, the bandwidth needed is still too much for the latter to handle.

This is big news. The world’s biggest sporting event, delivered via the next generation of TV tech? Sign us up. Despite the fact that the 4K/Ultra HD adoption rate is probably south of .00000001 percent, it’s nice to see to see the technology slouching towards Brazil to be born.

Here’s hoping that by the time the tournament kicks off, 4K/Ultra HD TV prices will have fallen enough for football (or, soccer, if you must) lovers to take advantage of this news en masse – but that’s about as likely as the ol’ US of A besting the field to become champions.

Though waiting for 4K/Ultra HD feels a bit like calender-watching around Christmas time, it is further along the pipeline than anticipated. Fingers crossed that this first broadcast goes off as planned because, if it does, it will only open up the floodgates. Word is the BBC is already planning its first 4K/Ultra HD broadcast, though it may be slightly less compelling to your average sports nut. It has pegged a wildlife program for its initial broadcast, which reportedly stars Meerkats.

Editors' Recommendations

Contributor

Adam is an A/V News Writer for Digital Trends, and is responsible for bringing you the latest advances in A/V…

Audio / Video

Best Samsung TV deals: Save on 4K TVs, QLED TVs, OLED TVs, 8K TVs

A person watching a Samsung TV.

Sorting through some of the best TV brands is a great way to start a search for a new TV. Samsung comes in at the top of many people’s list, and the electronics giant has a lot to offer if you’re looking for a new TV for your living room, basement, or home theater setup. Samsung regularly kicks out some of the best TVs you can buy, and it offers some great value as well, as it regularly has models among the best TV deals. Currently you can find a number of Samsung TV deals out there. They include 4K and 8K TVs, as well as TVs utilizing a number of different picture technologies such as OLED and QLED. We’ve tracked down what we feel are the best Samsung TV deals to shop right now. Read onward for more details on how to save, and don’t be shy about making a purchase if you see a deal you like, as there’s no telling how long these deals will last.
Samsung 65-inch QN85C QLED 4K Smart TV — $1,300, was $2,000

We find the QN85C to be sitting at just about the perfect price for a TV right now, while still maintaining the qualities and freshness of a much more quality TV. While it is 4K, it uses mini-LED tech, which allows for fine-tuned light control. Remember that the best QLED TVs are typically renowned more for their brightness than contrast; this tech can tip that need for contrast in the QN85C's favor. Other great features of this TV include audio with Dolby Atmos and Object Tracking Sound, 4K upscaling, and motion acceleration to keep fast moving content smooth.

Audio / Video

Crazy! This 75-inch 4K TV is under $450 at Walmart right now

The onn. 75” Class 4K UHD (2160P) LED Frameless Roku Smart TV is a living room with orange walls.

Walmart continues its reign of great TV deals with the option to buy an Onn. 75-inch Frameless 4K TV for just $448. A 75-inch TV for under $500 is pretty impressive and this TV usually costs $498 so you’re saving even more than usual. If you want a great new TV to add to your home for less, this is the perfect opportunity to do so while saving plenty of cash. Let’s take a look at what it has to offer.

Why you should buy the Onn. 75-inch Frameless 4K TV
Onn. is nowhere to be seen in our look at the best TV brands but it’s still pretty respectable for anyone seeking a budget-priced TV. The most obvious benefit here is the hefty 75-inch 4K screen with 2160p resolution. It looks great with a crystal clear picture which is an excellent upgrade compared to an HD screen. The Onn. 75-inch Frameless 4K TV might lack the finer features of the best TVs but it has the essentials arranged well.

Audio / Video

What we want to see from the next Apple TV 4K

An Apple TV 4K sitting on a wood entertainment center with a HomePod Mini behind it.

One thing not on this list: A dust-resistant Apple TV 4K. Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

Now that we’ve gotten the whole “Apple TV 4K with a camera” thing out of our system, it’s time to take a more serious look at what we still consider to be the best streaming hardware you can buy. More specifically, this article is about what we’d like to see added to the diminutive box.