The broadcast division of the International Olympic Committee has “no plans for 4K TV broadcasting” during the 2016 Rio Olympics, because there is no demand from broadcasters.
In an interview with Hollywood Reporter, Yiannis Exarchos, CEO of Olympic Broadcast Services, said the organisation had to take its cue from broadcasters. Instead Olympic Broadcast Services is looking at the possibility of using virtual reality technologies to create a virtual experience for mobile phones and tablets.
At the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, BBC R&D used a 360 degree camera to capture video and sound from the gymnastic competitions that was sent to a headset located within the Glasgow Science Centre. Two screens and motion sensors in the headset help create the illusion that the wearer is in the crowd watching the competition.
Whether this scenario is any more mainstream than 4K video is debatable.
Japan’s NHK is already planning to move a stage further. When the 2020 Olympics are held in Tokyo the broadcaster is planning to deliver an 8K Ultra HD service. Its already tested 8K at the Sochi Olympics and the World Cup.
