1. 4k – Technical Summary

2. 4k or UHD Ultra High Definition (UHD) is 3840x2160 pixels
UHD is often called 4k
4k (digital cinema definition) is 4096x2160 pixels
When we talk about “4k” in the home market we mean UHD.
CE industry applied term 4k to UHD
“Mastered in 4k” means 4k content downscaled to HD for Blu-ray
Supersampling means it looks better than content that was mastered in HD
Some content providers will label as 4k content that is scaled up from 2k
Sony TVs have industry leading up scaling built in, some other brands scale HD to 4k and it looks worse than SD.

3. 8’
84” UHD
50” HD
26” SD

4. Picture improvements beyond spatial resolution
Picture specifications for high def are based on CRT TV capabilities
With 4k there is an opportunity to improve other picture parameters
These new parameters can improve HD too but will need new players.
Parameter
Comments
Larger color space (ITU-R Rec 2020 or XYZ)
Colors that cannot be reproduced on a CRT TV
High dynamic range (HDR) aka extended dynamic range (XDR)
More details in the highlights, darker shadows.
Brighter screens for better color display
HD is 100 nits, new XDR TVs are 1,000 nits, studio target is 4,000 nits but that uses far too much power.
10 or 12 bits color depth
8 bit used in HD can cause “contouring” of the image. (10 vs 12 bits still being debated)
Higher frame rates
48 fps or 60 fps for high frame rate movies
100 fps or 120 fps sports broadcast

5. Acquiring 4k content – features and episodic
Camera Type
Maximum Resolution
Comments
In use?
4k?
HDR?
35mm Film
Scanned at 4k
Most features and all episodic that are shot on film
Yes
65mm Film
Scanned at 6k
“Lawrence of Arabia” No
35mm CCD Digital Cinema Cameras
1920x1080
Sony F35, Genesis (2005)
Arri Alexa
2880x1620 or 2880×2160 depending on format
CMOS RAW or ProRes
Yes*
Red Epic & Dragon
Up to 5.5k & 6k respectively
CMOS RAW
Sony F55
4096x2160
CMOS RAW or XAVC
Sony F65
Normally 4096x2160, 8192x2160 possible
CGI effects
Typically 2k
Resolution is rendering cost issue.
Option
* These cameras are, in varying degrees, capable of HDR but production decisions may mean footage isn’t HDR

6. Not all 4k is created equal
Sony F65
4096 green pixels
2048 red pixels
2048 blue pixels
Red Epic
2560 green pixels
1280 red pixels
1280 blue pixels
Sony F55
2048 green pixels
1024 red pixels
1024 blue pixels
Arri Alexa 1440 green pixels
720 red pixels
720 blue pixels
8k pixels
True 4k output
5.5k pixels
4k output
4k pixels
4k output
2.8k pixels
2.8k output
Bayer pattern and CMOS sensors

7. Delivering 4k to the consumer
Compressed files are bigger than HD but not 4 times larger
4k adds high frequency detail, affect on encoding depends on content
Files for SNE service are 2-3 times size of HD files (AVC encoded)
4k delivery becomes practical with HEVC (H.265) codec
Perhaps 35-40% more efficient
Hardware decoders in shipping devices
Sony Pictures is requiring significantly stronger content protection for UHD/4k than for HD
Movielabs’ Enhanced Content Protection specifications
HDCP 2.2 protecting the HDMI link to the TV
Sony TVs have HDCP 2.2, not all other 4k TVs do
HDCP 1.4 security is compromised

8. Availability of 4k in the consumer market
Sony shipped server loaded with 11 4k movies with the 84” 4k TV in late 2012
Sony 4k Video Unlimited service launched 1st September 2013
Preload and download 4k movies and TV shows
Second gen 4k player and TVs have Netflix 4k
Netflix started 4k streaming SPE content to Sony and Samsung TVs in June 2013
Adaptive streaming means instantaneous resolution may be less than 4k or content is heavily compressed
Some reviewers are saying it doesn’t look noticeably better than HD
A lot of interest by broadcasters in UHD
BSkyB and Sky Deutschland are experimenting with shooting sports in UHD and with high dynamic range
Korean broadcasters have linear channels up.

9. Sony 4K Content Update Native 4K Current Status
X1 server box – currently US only (International scope underway)
70+ features & TV, including entire Breaking Bad series
Additional key new releases & catalog
ASM 2 (2D), American Hustle, Monuments Men, Fury, Annie, Untitled Cameron Crowe Movie
10 pre-approved catalog titles currently being evaluated
“Mastered in 4K” Current Status
Driven by alignment with Sony 4K TV launch
15 total titles across 2 waves
Global bundle & retail opportunities underway
Continue to utilize 4K masters for 1080p Blu-rays – emphasize quality of 4K in Home Entertainment marketing