Back in 2020, Sony and Panasonic partnered with Japanese broadcaster NHK who was was all geared up and ready to capture the Olympics Games in 8K for the first time.. then Covid-19 happened.
As the world took a breath and paused the games for a year, the 2021 Olympic Games came and went and 8K was not the story people thought it would be.
Now 3-4 years on, it’s time for another Olympic Games and we’re about to ride the 8K train once again.
This year, the 2024 Paris Olympics will make history by showcasing the world’s first 8K live stream broadcast. This is a major technological leap forward, offering viewers an unprecedented level of detail and clarity.
To deliver 8K content, you need the entire pipeline of content from capture (8k broadcast cameras), the editing/mixing hardware, the networking and storage infrastructure and the final display in the consumer’s home to all support 8K. In 2024, sadly this is not the case.
While Paris 2024 will be the first edition of the Olympic Games to have most of these elements in place, the vast majority of the TVs in our living room, only support 4K quality, not 8K.
There are a range of 8K display on the market, and the cheapest I found was A$3,495 for a 65″ Samsung Neo QLED 8K TV. More commonly 8K content is best delivered on larger displays of 75″ and above.
As we review the prices of displays at 75″, we see the price jumps to almost double that at A$6,495 and the next step up, just 10″ more, will set you back close to A$10,000 for an 85″ 8K display.
These are price tags that many people are simply not willing to pay, especially when there’s very little native 8K content around.
If you do happen to have an 8K display, then you’ll also need a very fast internet connection to stream the content, and a smart app on our TV that supports it (i.e. just having a YouTube app does not mean the app supports 8K).
In the unlikely event you have all the pieces in place, then in theory, you could watch 8K Olympic coverage livestreamed to your living room.
More practically, the broadcasters will take the 8K camera footage (not guarenteed at all events) and send it to the Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) in 8K resolution, compressing it for broadcast TV or streaming services in 4K or in many instances 1080p.
The Opening Ceremony will take place on Saturday, July 27th, 2024, at 3:00 AM AEST.
How to Watch in 4K
Stan Sport: The exclusive provider of 4K Olympics coverage in Australia. You’ll need a Stan Premium subscription (AU$21/month) and the Stan Sport add-on (AU$15/month). Coverage starts at 3:00 AM AEST.
Channel 9 (Pre-Show Only): Channel 9 will have a pre-show starting at 1:00 AM AEST, but the main ceremony will be in standard HD.
Why 4K Matters This has 4x times the resolution of standard HD, and delivers an incredibly immersive experience. It provides detail to see the faces in the crowd, the precision to see where the ball lands and generally have a sharper more vibrant colour spectrum that better represents the reality of being there.
Additional Tips:
Check your internet speed: Ensure you have a stable and fast internet connection for smooth 4K streaming.
Set a reminder: With the early start time, set an alarm or reminder so you don’t miss the action.
Consider a watch party: Gather friends and family with a 4K TV to share the experience.
Failing that, move to Japan where the broadcaster NHK who launched the world’s first 8K television channel, known as BS8K, in December 2018. This channel is dedicated to broadcasting content in 8K resolution (7680 x 4320 pixels),
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