The annual BIRTV2015 broadcasting and television grand event will be held from August 26 to 29 at the Beijing International Exhibition Center. Over the four-day exhibition, exhibitors will showcase the latest broadcast and television equipment and technologies. This year, major participants are expected to once again highlight advancements made over the past year—such as the maturity of 4K technology and production workflows, the IP-based transformation of broadcasting and media, multi-platform distribution networks, the integrated development of new and traditional media, and cutting-edge film technologies along with their practical applications.
Over the past two years, 4K has firmly established itself as the ever-present star at major industry exhibitions. Today, from shooting and production to storage and distribution, 4K content is no longer just theoretical—it’s already making its way into our living rooms, one TV at a time.
4K technology becomes mainstream
This year's exhibition will feature a comprehensive showcase of 4K ultra-high-definition technology, highlighting end-to-end 4K solutions and products—from content capture and editing to post-production, distribution, broadcasting, and storage. According to the organizing committee, attendees can also look forward to live screenings of the 4K Spring Festival Gala as well as several 4K films. Additionally, aerial drones equipped with cutting-edge 4K ultra-high-definition cameras will make their debut at the event.
Sony
In the 4K space, Sony is a provider of end-to-end solutions—from capture and storage to monitoring and delivery directly to living rooms or home theaters.
The Sony 4K camera lineup spans a wide range of applications, from high-quality digital filmmaking to TV series, music videos, commercial ads, documentaries, and even low-cost business videos and wedding footage. The F65, PMW-F55/F5, PXW-FS7K, PXW-X70, and the professional α7s kit were all showcased at the event. Inside Hall 8, two SRX-T615 4K projectors were seamlessly blended together to deliver stunning 8Kx2K visuals on a large screen, perfectly showcasing the breathtaking clarity and detail of 4K ultra-high definition. Featured content included clips from Yu Quan’s concert performance and a teaser for CCTV’s 2015 Spring Festival Gala celebrating the Year of the Sheep—both captured using the F65 camera. These cutting-edge applications promise to revolutionize experiences in museums, planetariums, cinema giant screens, and entertainment venues, allowing audiences to vividly immerse themselves in the awe-inspiring technological marvel of ultra-high resolution.
In terms of post-production workflows, Sony boasts a comprehensive RAW 4K process that ensures top-notch support for film post-production. Additionally, after forming the XAVC Alliance with several leading domestic non-linear editing software manufacturers, Sony has successfully rolled out the XAVC 4K workflow, offering an efficient, streamlined, and cost-effective solution tailored for applications such as feature films, commercials, and documentaries. Manufacturers supporting Sony’s XAVC include: Ocean, Jiecheng Century, Sobey, New Oute, Adobe, Grass Valley, Avid, Apple, and more.
The 4K monitor introduces another cutting-edge display solution: the BVM-X300, powered by HDR (High-Dynamic-Range) technology, delivering full 4K resolution, an expanded color gamut, enhanced contrast, and superior brightness. This advanced tool provides more accurate technical insights throughout the content production workflow—and is already being utilized by professional broadcasting organizations, including central and provincial-level TV stations. Additionally, the BVM-X300 monitor, supporting ST2084 Gamma version V1.1, will also be showcased at this event. The BVM, PVM, and LMD series’ other models will be on display as well.
It is reported that during the exhibition, Sony will also showcase its 4K broadcast truck and deliver a custom-built 4K TV broadcast vehicle to China Vision Feiyang. Additionally, Sony has set up a 4K digital cinema booth at the event, highlighting high-resolution, high-contrast 4K theater solutions. The booth will also feature daily scheduled open lectures, offering attendees insights into the latest concepts and practical applications of 4K and HD technologies.
Panasonic
Panasonic's "lineup" of 4K products for broadcast and television systems will include: the next-generation AK-UC3000MC 4K studio camera, the versatile AK-UB300MC 4K box-style camcorder, the AW-UE70—the world's first all-in-one 4K camera integrating lens, camera body, and gimbal into a single unit—and Panasonic's HD/4K broadcasting truck. Meanwhile, the standalone DVX200 model boasts an innovative design, exceptional performance specifications, and features a fixed-lens, large-format 4K integrated system perfect for professional use.
HuaChuang Technology
At this exhibition, Huachuang Technology will showcase a 4K and HD demonstration area, proudly unveiling its new 4K ultra-high-definition camera—the HSK-UHD4000, the world’s first EFP system designed for studio, broadcast truck, and live production applications, featuring four 2/3" sensors. Additionally, another cutting-edge 4K product from Huachuang— the UHDDE-4980 4K video editing recorder—will make its debut, revealing its powerful 4K recording and playback capabilities. Paired seamlessly with the HSK-UHD4000, the UHDDE-4980 forms an efficient, cost-effective 4K production workflow, enabling broadcasters and production houses to effortlessly deliver premium 4K ultra-high-definition content with maximum efficiency and minimal investment!
Tektronix
At BIRTV 2015, Tektronix will showcase its industry-leading, comprehensive 4K monitoring solutions, including the WFM8300 and WVR8300. The WFM8300 waveform monitor and WVR8300 analyzer enable a wide range of 4K measurements—such as waveform displays, picture views, vector scopes, color gamut analysis for YPbPr formats, and eye diagrams. These advanced measurement capabilities help users significantly reduce the time required to isolate, diagnose, and resolve system issues and design flaws. In addition to these two flagship products, the event will also feature the WFM7200 waveform monitor, the precision multi-format video signal generator SPG8000, the automated synchronization and signal switching unit ECO8020, the high-precision multi-format analog and digital signal generator TG8000, and other hardware- and software-based 4K technology solutions like the PQA600C.
As 4K technology continues to mature and gain widespread adoption, major manufacturers are also rolling out their own 4K-compatible software, hardware, and complementary products. For instance, NewAot will showcase its latest studio-grade 4K subtitle generator at the BIRTV exhibition; meanwhile, Ventuz is set to unveil its Truk 3D real-time graphics and text packaging system, which supports ultra-high 4K-resolution input and output. No doubt, at this year’s BIRTV show, 4K offerings will be everywhere—abundant and innovative.
In addition to showcasing new 4K products and cutting-edge technologies from leading manufacturers, the organizing committee will also screen the 4K Spring Festival Gala and several 4K films. Notably, Sony will make its debut at Cinema Hall No. 1, where the hall will collaborate with Sony’s main exhibition space in Hall No. 8. Specifically, the live 4K signal from Hall No. 8 will be transmitted via IP fiber optics directly to Hall No. 1, enabling real-time projection using the SRX-R515P projector. This innovative application not only enhances the cinema experience with richer, more immersive content but also significantly boosts the diversity of 4K cinema applications.
8K technology—only the first signs are beginning to emerge.
While 4K technology was still being explored and refined—and hadn’t yet become widely adopted—pioneers had already begun discussing and even taking initial steps toward 8K technology. Notably at BIRTV 2015, Japan’s NHK made its debut at the exhibition, showcasing its latest 8K technology products. Just recently, NHK used 8K technology to capture a baseball game, deploying six 8K cameras at Yankee Stadium to record the entire match in stunning detail. This marked the world’s first-ever broadcast of a sporting event recorded in 8K ultra-high definition. Reportedly, NHK aims to leverage this cutting-edge resolution for large-scale live coverage during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
To showcase this, the Sony F65 will be paired with a dedicated SRDM ultra-high-resolution processing system to deliver 8K visuals. The SRDM ultra-high-resolution output system can take the raw RAW footage captured by the F65 and leverage its capabilities to produce ultra-high-resolution images in resolutions such as 8Kx2K, 8Kx4K, or any custom resolution—providing filmmakers with the ultimate tool for critical post-production workflows aimed at achieving breathtaking 8K ultra-high definition quality.
At this year's NABShow 2015, RedCamera also unveiled two new professional-grade cameras, each supporting ultra-high-definition video recording in 6K and 8K resolutions, respectively.
This June, Sharp launched the 80-inch LC-80XU30 TV in Japan. The product delivers 8K-resolution picture quality.
It is reported that Panasonic is developing an "8K" technology for digital cameras, featuring a pixel count 16 times higher than HD resolution, and is expected to launch the product in 2020.