Content & TV supply in ‘beginning stage’…Terrestrial UHD TV, long way to go
Jung Yoon Hee | yuni@ | 2017-05-31 10:17:22
Starting from 5a.m in Seoul metropolitan city today
4 times clearer than HD broadcasting
Two way service based on stereotypic sound & IP
Only small minority to enjoy UHD broadcasting
Only 5% of direct reception of terrestrial TV
Slow American UHD TV sales
5% content formation `Only 1 hour per day`
Terrestrial Ultra High Definition (UHD) broadcasting era has begun. As of May 31, 5 am, terrestrial UHD broadcasting will start from the Seoul metropolitan area. It is a next-generation broadcasting service. The service provides four times clearer, stereoscopic sound and IP-based bidirectional service than conventional high definition (HD) broadcasting. Korea is the first in the world to provide terrestrial UHD broadcasting.
However, the viewpoint of the terrestrial UHD broadcasting is both concerned and expected. It is unlikely that ordinary viewers will see terrestrial UHDs immediately.
TVs that can still see terrestrial UHDs are in its beginning stage, and even viewers who have already purchased UHD TVs should purchase antennas and setup boxes (converters) separately. UHD contents that they can see right away are bare, even if users have a hassle-free reception environment.
The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning with the Korea Communications Commission announced on May 20 that they will start terrestrial UHD broadcasting from the metropolitan area as of May 31. It has been almost two years since the 700MHz band frequency distributed which was designated as `golden frequency` for broadcasting in July 2015, for broadcast use for terrestrial UHD broadcasting. Originally, the UHD broadcast was scheduled to start at the end of February. However, the service was delayed after three months due to lack of test broadcast time.
The problem is that although terrestrial UHD broadcasting started, there are not many viewers who can watch it. Users should receive terrestrial broadcasts directly to watch UHD broadcasting. However, the current domestic terrestrial direct reception rate is only 5%. Besides, users also need to purchase UHD TV for the American standard (ATSC 3.0) that supports terrestrial UHD. Users, who purchased a UHD TV using the existing European standard (DVB-T2), should buy a separate converter.
Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics have launched American UHD TVs in February and March, and launched converters in response to UHD introduction. According to the government, the number of European UHD TVs sold to date ranges from 900,000 to 1 million. American UHD TV sales have begun. However, the specific sales volume has not been counted. American UHD TVs are inevitably proliferating, as sales of European UHD TVs for inventory exhaustion are on the line at home appliances stores.
Buying UHD TV does not mean the end. The antenna (UHF) should be connected and `Auto Channel` set up by remote control to view UHD broadcasting. In case of a detached house, indoor and outdoor antennas should be installed. However, it is necessary to replace the antenna with a broadband antenna in case of a narrow band. A separate signal processor (released late 2018) may be required.
The UHD content that can be watched is minimal, which is a stumbling block to the spread of the service. In the first year of the program, the government is expected to recommend a 5% UHD programming rate and gradually increase it to 25% in 2020, 50% in 2023 and 100% in 2027. However, the 5% UHD broadcasting program is one hour a day. Broadcasting industry expert said, "The combination of 5% of the original UHD content is very few, and the rest of the contents are the same as digital TV. I feel it`s worth watching the content only after the combination reaches over 50%."
Moreover, as UHD contents production costs have to be self-procured, terrestrial broadcasters are unlikely to actively produce content. Initially, the terrestrial broadcaster planned to invest a total of KRW 6.79 trillion (facility investment KRW 960.4 billion, contents KRW 5.88 trillion) by 2027. However it is doubtful whether the broadcasting advertising market has shrunk for several years. In fact, terrestrial broadcasting companies reported that it was difficult to expand their investment due to a sudden drop in advertising revenue when UHD`s new broadcasting station application was filed last October.
The government and terrestrial broadcasters expect UHD services to spread as time passes, as the advantage of UHD is obvious even if the initial reception environment is insufficient now. A representative of the Korea Communications Commission said, "Broadcasting companies should work together to disseminate the UHD service by eliminating the complaint. They also should try to spread the UHD service." He also added, “It is the consumer`s choice to receive terrestrial broadcasting and watch UHD or paid TV.”
By Jung Yoon Hee yuni@
[ copyright ⓒ The Digitaltimes ]
4 times clearer than HD broadcasting
Two way service based on stereotypic sound & IP
Only small minority to enjoy UHD broadcasting
Only 5% of direct reception of terrestrial TV
Slow American UHD TV sales
5% content formation `Only 1 hour per day`
Terrestrial Ultra High Definition (UHD) broadcasting era has begun. As of May 31, 5 am, terrestrial UHD broadcasting will start from the Seoul metropolitan area. It is a next-generation broadcasting service. The service provides four times clearer, stereoscopic sound and IP-based bidirectional service than conventional high definition (HD) broadcasting. Korea is the first in the world to provide terrestrial UHD broadcasting.
However, the viewpoint of the terrestrial UHD broadcasting is both concerned and expected. It is unlikely that ordinary viewers will see terrestrial UHDs immediately.
TVs that can still see terrestrial UHDs are in its beginning stage, and even viewers who have already purchased UHD TVs should purchase antennas and setup boxes (converters) separately. UHD contents that they can see right away are bare, even if users have a hassle-free reception environment.
The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning with the Korea Communications Commission announced on May 20 that they will start terrestrial UHD broadcasting from the metropolitan area as of May 31. It has been almost two years since the 700MHz band frequency distributed which was designated as `golden frequency` for broadcasting in July 2015, for broadcast use for terrestrial UHD broadcasting. Originally, the UHD broadcast was scheduled to start at the end of February. However, the service was delayed after three months due to lack of test broadcast time.
The problem is that although terrestrial UHD broadcasting started, there are not many viewers who can watch it. Users should receive terrestrial broadcasts directly to watch UHD broadcasting. However, the current domestic terrestrial direct reception rate is only 5%. Besides, users also need to purchase UHD TV for the American standard (ATSC 3.0) that supports terrestrial UHD. Users, who purchased a UHD TV using the existing European standard (DVB-T2), should buy a separate converter.
Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics have launched American UHD TVs in February and March, and launched converters in response to UHD introduction. According to the government, the number of European UHD TVs sold to date ranges from 900,000 to 1 million. American UHD TV sales have begun. However, the specific sales volume has not been counted. American UHD TVs are inevitably proliferating, as sales of European UHD TVs for inventory exhaustion are on the line at home appliances stores.
Buying UHD TV does not mean the end. The antenna (UHF) should be connected and `Auto Channel` set up by remote control to view UHD broadcasting. In case of a detached house, indoor and outdoor antennas should be installed. However, it is necessary to replace the antenna with a broadband antenna in case of a narrow band. A separate signal processor (released late 2018) may be required.
The UHD content that can be watched is minimal, which is a stumbling block to the spread of the service. In the first year of the program, the government is expected to recommend a 5% UHD programming rate and gradually increase it to 25% in 2020, 50% in 2023 and 100% in 2027. However, the 5% UHD broadcasting program is one hour a day. Broadcasting industry expert said, "The combination of 5% of the original UHD content is very few, and the rest of the contents are the same as digital TV. I feel it`s worth watching the content only after the combination reaches over 50%."
Moreover, as UHD contents production costs have to be self-procured, terrestrial broadcasters are unlikely to actively produce content. Initially, the terrestrial broadcaster planned to invest a total of KRW 6.79 trillion (facility investment KRW 960.4 billion, contents KRW 5.88 trillion) by 2027. However it is doubtful whether the broadcasting advertising market has shrunk for several years. In fact, terrestrial broadcasting companies reported that it was difficult to expand their investment due to a sudden drop in advertising revenue when UHD`s new broadcasting station application was filed last October.
The government and terrestrial broadcasters expect UHD services to spread as time passes, as the advantage of UHD is obvious even if the initial reception environment is insufficient now. A representative of the Korea Communications Commission said, "Broadcasting companies should work together to disseminate the UHD service by eliminating the complaint. They also should try to spread the UHD service." He also added, “It is the consumer`s choice to receive terrestrial broadcasting and watch UHD or paid TV.”
By Jung Yoon Hee yuni@