4k – Technical Summary

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.

8’

84” UHD

50” HD

26” SD

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 TVHigh 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

Acquiring 4k content – features and episodicCamera Type Maximum Resolution Comments In use? 4k? HDR?

35mm Film Scanned at 4k Most features and all episodic that are shot on film

Yes Yes Yes

65mm Film Scanned at 6k “Lawrence of Arabia” No Yes Yes

35mm CCD Digital Cinema Cameras

1920x1080 Sony F35, Genesis (2005) No No No

Arri Alexa 2880x1620 or 2880×2160 depending on format

CMOS RAW or ProRes Yes No Yes*

Red Epic & Dragon Up to 5.5k & 6k respectively CMOS RAW Yes Yes Yes*

Sony F55 4096x2160 CMOS RAW or XAVC Yes Yes Yes*

Sony F65 Normally 4096x2160, 8192x2160 possible

CMOS RAW Yes Yes Yes*

CGI effects Typically 2k Resolution is rendering cost issue. Yes Option Option

* These cameras are, in varying degrees, capable of HDR but production decisions may mean footage isn’t HDR

Not all 4k is created equalSony F654096 green pixels2048 red pixels2048 blue pixels

Red Epic2560 green pixels1280 red pixels1280 blue pixels

Sony F552048 green pixels1024 red pixels1024 blue pixels

Arri Alexa1440 green pixels 720 red pixels720 blue pixels

Bayer pattern and CMOS sensors

8k pixelsTrue 4k output

5.5k pixels4k output

4k pixels4k output

2.8k pixels2.8k output

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

• www.movielabs.com/ngvideo • 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

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.

Sony 4K Content Update

Native 4K Current Status• X1 server box – currently US only (International scope underway)

o 70+ features & TV, including entire Breaking Bad serieso 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