8K Ultra HD display definition, logo

US trade body the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) and its member companies have launched the official industry display definition and logo for 8K Ultra High-Definition (UHD) televisions – for use beginning with 2020 model products – to help retailers and consumers identify products that meet the technology industry’s 8K Ultra HD requirements.

The logo and definition – addressing the display’s resolution, digital inputs, HDR, up-conversion and bit depth – are approved by the CTA Video Division Board, which includes the world’s leading television manufacturing companies, retailers and enabling technology companies. The CTA 8K Ultra HD logo licence and certification agreement will be available in the coming weeks, and the logo may be used starting January 1st, 2020.

The 8K Ultra HD logo programme is an extension of the 4K Ultra HD logo CTA announced in 2014. As with CTA’s introduction of the 4K Ultra HD definition, the association again convened major companies from the video sector to draft, discuss and approve the official designation for the new generation of Ultra HD products and services called 8K – with four times the detail of 4K UHD and 16 times sharper than HDTV.

“CTA is home to video industry players across the ecosystem – from manufacturers to the content and entertainment sector – and we’re proud to convene such a diverse group of innovative companies to work together,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CTA. “This 8K Ultra HD definition is the product of our Video Division Board’s dedication and hard work. As a result, retailers and consumers will know products that carry the accompanying logo deliver 8K UHD quality and performance.”

Among the industry definition’s attributes:

• Display Resolution: At least 33 million active pixels, with at least 7680 horizontally and 4320 vertically within a 16:9 viewable window, and specific measurement methodology in accordance with industry standards.
• Digital Inputs: One or more HDMI inputs supporting resolution of 7680×4320 pixels; bit depth of 10-bits; frame rates of 24, 30 and 60 frames per second; HDR transfer functions and colorimetry as specified by ITU-R BT.2100; and HDCP v2.2 or equivalent content protection.
• Up-conversion: Capability to upscale SD, HD and 4K video and display it at 8K UHD display resolution.
• Bit Depth: Capability to receive 10-bit 8K images and render an image that shows responsiveness to changes to any of the 10 bits.

The CTA’s latest, biannual Sales & Forecasts report projects US sales of 8K UHD TVs will reach 175,000 units and $734 million (€663m) in revenue in 2019, with continued growth expected in subsequent years.