NHK to broadcast Tokyo 2020 in 8K

Japanese public broadcaster NHK has announced it will provide 8K coverage of select events at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympics Games, including the opening and closing ceremonies.
The ultra-high-definition (UHD) technology will be used during coverage of seven Olympic disciplines, including athletics, swimming, judo, soccer, table tennis, badminton, and volleyball.

For the Paralympics, NHK will use 8K resolution cameras to capture images for broadcasts of four sports, which will be athletics, swimming, badminton and wheelchair rugby. The schedule will see NHK transmit 8K broadcasts on every day of the Games.

In addition, NHK’s broadcasts of the opening and closing ceremonies for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be supported by helicopters equipped with 8K cameras to provide live footage from above the National Stadium in Tokyo.

An NHK statement read: ‘We are preparing the highest standards of broadcast and service for our viewers.’

This summer’s Olympics is scheduled to take place between 24th July and 9th August, followed by the Paralympics, which is due to take place between 25th August and 6th September.

Despite event organisers and broadcasters ramping up preparations for Tokyo 2020, there remains uncertainty whether the Games will go ahead amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.