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decoupling, the industry would have to come
up with an Ultra HD HDR standard.
Furthermore, he thought that consideration
should also be given to decoupling High
Frame Rate, although recent work by the
BBC had shown that 100 to 120Hz frame
rates gave acceptable quality. But whatever
happened, the Phase 2 of the DVB-UHD
specification should be backwards
compatible with Phase 1.
UK Consumer Electronics Business
Group Director for research firm GfK, Nigel
Catlow, revealed that the sales of 4K Ultra
HD TVs were 200,000 in 2014, representing
23% of the total volume of the UK's TV
market. He believed the Ultra HD market
was set to explode and estimated sales of
500,000 4K sets in the UK during 2015,
rising to two million in 2017.
Catlow cited price erosion as a key factor
for the anticipated increase and referred to
the decline in average selling price in 2014 to
£1,479 (€2,090) - about £1,200 less than for
the same size 4K model in 2013.
In 2014, there had been just eleven 4K
models to choose from; in 2015, this would
rise to some 75 models. Catlow further
revealed that around a quarter of all Ultra
HD sets sold were in the size range 43-49
inches, making them just over a third of the
value of all sets that size. The 50-59 inch
segment had the same volume, but 45% of
the value of 60 inches + sets accounted for
36% of units and 62% value. To keep the
value moving upwards, manufacturers would
have to keep introducing innovative features.
According to Richard Lindsay-Davis, CEO
of the UK's Digital Television Group (DTG),
the Ultra HD market was approaching a
tipping point when standards would be fully
supported and consumer services deployed.
His organisation's main focus was on
implementation and collaboration in
technical matters and he emphasised that
such collaboration was essential and the key
to Ultra HD success.
Through its Plugfest events, DTG was
working towards interoperability and is
concentrating on five key areas: higher
screen resolution, higher frame rate, wider
colour gamut, higher dynamic range and
object-oriented surround sound. LindsayDavies said that support for advanced
technology standards was emerging and that
its consumer electronics manufacturer
members were embracing technology as
quickly as possible.
He also thought that it was the industry's
responsibility to help avoid consumer
confusion and that this could be done
through the cooperation DTG encouraged.
He told delegates that DTG advice was being
sought by UK retailer buying teams. They
were asking what they should specify and
look out for in 4K terms prior embarking on
overseas buying trips.
Richard Salmon, lead research engineer
for the BBC, disclosed that the broadcaster
now had a clearer idea of what should be
done with 4K and that 12-bit coding is
needed for production, although ten bits
would be adequate for transmission.
Originally the BBC thought frame rates of up
to 300 Hz would be needed for live Ultra HD
Andrew Neil: one of the industry
experts examining Ultra High
Definition TV from all angles
sports, but n