The arrival of ultra-high-definition (UHD) TV into the South African market has influenced consumer expectations of TV sets.
So says Lance Berger, head of product marketing, TV/AV, at Samsung Electronics SA, who notes that, irrespective of whether the user is watching standard definition, HD or full HD content, UHD technology is able to take the source image, eliminate visual noise, improve the detail and sharpness, and turn it into UHD resolution.
"While pure UHD content (4K resolution, which translates to four times more pixels than the current 1080p HD TV) may not be available to all SA consumers currently, industry players such as Samsung and Sharp are already making UHD products available in the market," says Berger.
He points out that the content supply will no doubt gain pace, with Hollywood already filming movies and TV shows in UHD.
"That said, while SA TV stations are increasingly adopting HD channels and broadcasts, one HD stream on pay-TV equals the size of approximately four standard-definition channels, so it may be some time before UHD reaches the mass SA market, but it's slowly making its way in," explains Berger.
Warren Kyle, director at Sharp, a multinational manufacturer of electronic products, concurs, emphasising that all major manufacturers offer a 4K2K unit, or range thereof, and interest is peaking, with the country already seeing early adopters of UHD.
"This is not similar to the 3D display hype, as this format is not as superficial. The definition of the image is increased, enhancing the viewing experience," he says. "The pricing for 4K2K ranges from R60 000 to as much as R385 000. This presently puts the vast majority of consumers out of this market, meaning it won't be a dominant format in the short term, but, in time, prices will drop and the format will be as affordable as HD was when it became a 'must have'."
Kyle adds that the provision of readily available local UHD content and bandwidth will remain a challenge. "It will all be on a pay channel, as it commands more bandwidth than any of our current formats - and pioneering the providing of content will come at a price," he says.
On a larger scale, Kyle adds that South African consumers are not yet fully informed on 4K2K - the manufacturers that are dominant in this format will be the ones responsible for educating them and increasing demand, he says.
"There are various opinions on who the market leader will be, but no one has been left behind in this 'race'. There are even some unknown 'brands' that offer a 4K2K unit. The leader is the one who makes the innovative technology first," remarks Kyle.
Berger concludes that no longer will there be concerns about picture quality - with all content becoming an immersive experience when viewed in UHD.
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