P R E S S R E L E A S E
CEA Updates Characteristics for Ultra High-Definition Displays
Voluntary technical display characteristics, effective September 2014, address picture quality attributes and interoperability
CEA also issues new characteristics for Connected Ultra High-Definition display
New York, NY, June 24, 2014 – The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® today announced updated core characteristics for Ultra High-Definition (UHD) TVs, monitors and projectors for the home. As devised and approved by CEA’s Video Division Board, these characteristics build on the first-generation UHD characteristics released by CEA in October 2012.
These expanded display characteristics (CEA’s Ultra High-Definition Display Characteristics V2) – voluntary guidelines that take effect in September 2014 – are designed to address various attributes of picture quality and help move toward interoperability, while providing clarity for consumers and retailers alike.
“Ultra High-Definition TV is the next revolution in home display technology, offering consumers an incredibly immersive viewing experience with outstanding new levels of picture quality,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CEA. “These updated attributes will help ensure consumers get the most out of this exciting new technology and will provide additional certainty in the marketplace.”
Under CEA’s expanded characteristics, a TV, monitor or projector may be referred to as Ultra High-Definition if it meets the following minimum performance attributes:
Because one of the first ways consumers will have access to native 4K content is via Internet streaming on “connected” Ultra HDTVs, CEA has defined new characteristics for Connected Ultra High-Definition displays. Under these new characteristics, which complement the updated core UHD attributes, a display system may be referred to as a Connected Ultra HD device if it meets the following minimum performance attributes:
Ultra High-Definition TV is the closest thing to bringing the 4K Digital Cinema experience from movie theaters to the home, offering consumers an incredibly immersive viewing experience with superior picture quality compared to current HD displays. UHD TVs, projectors and monitors provide the ultimate viewing experience with more than eight million pixels of resolution, four times the resolution of today’s high-definition televisions, as well as other technical improvements designed to result in an unparalleled home entertainment experience for consumers.
CEA’s expanded display characteristics also include guidance on nomenclature designed to help provide manufacturers with marketing flexibility while still providing clarity for consumers. Specifically, the guidance states, “The terms Ultra High-Definition, Ultra HD or UHD may be used in conjunction with other modifiers,” for example ‘Ultra High-Definition TV 4K’.
In addition, CEA is working with its member companies to develop a UHD logo to assist consumers in identifying UHD products in the marketplace that meet CEA’s guidelines. The logo will be made available for voluntary use by manufacturers for product packaging, marketing materials and promotional activities. The companion voluntary logo program is expected to be launched later this year.
*High Efficiency Video Compression Main Profile, Level 5, Main tier, as defined in ISO/IEC 23008-2 MPEG-H Part 2 or ITU-T H.265, and may support higher profiles, levels or tiers.
About CEA:
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the technology trade association representing the $208 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. More than 2,000 companies enjoy the benefits of CEA membership, including legislative advocacy, market research, technical training and education, industry promotion, standards development and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA also owns and produces the International CES – The Global Stage for Innovation. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA’s industry services. Find CEA online at CE.org, DeclareInnovation.com and through social media: