Ultra-High-Definition

[Anchor Lead]

KBS will usher in an era of ultra-high-definition quality terrestrial broadcast starting in late May as the world's first terrestrial broadcaster to launch such a service. Trial broadcasts began from early Tuesday.

[Pkg]

[Soundbite] "3,2,1... broadcast!"

The world's first ultra high definition or UHD quality terrestrial broadcast was transmitted by KBS on Tuesday. KBS kicked off a trial broadcast of the groundbreaking service ahead of its formal launch in late May in the wider capital region.

[Soundbite] Go Dae-young(KBS President) : "KBS has made the big leap toward the world's first terrestrial UHD broadcast. This will be recorded in global broadcast history."

During the trial period, quality KBS contents such as the hit drama series "Descendants of the Sun" and the special KBS documentary "Baekdusan Mountain" will be aired on KBS TV UHD channels. The test broadcasts can be viewed in most areas within metropolitan Seoul. However, UHD televisions operating on the European format require a special set top box to view the UHD KBS broadcasts. UHD delivers images four-times clearer than existing HD broadcasts. If the TV is connected to the Internet, viewers can also access search and replay functions that are normally paid services.

[Soundbite] Prof. Hong Moon-gi(Hansei University) : "The UHD service may serve to expand viewer rights and consumers will enjoy a novel viewing experience."

Full-fledged UHD programming will launch in late May starting with metropolitan Seoul with plans to expand the service next year to other major cities and some areas in Gangwon-do Province where the PyeongChang Winter Olympics will be held next year.