Japan is rowing a boat. . .to a new broadcast world. HDTV broadcasting creating a new image culture for the 21st century

In Japan, ever since NHK initiated research and development of HDTV and proposed a preferred standard for a future TV system, NHK, broadcasting companies and electronic equipment manufacturers have been jointly developing various technical systems to commercialize HDTV. In addition to its technology advances, HDTV, coupled with advances in microelectronic technologies such as LSIs and IC memories, wide band and high-speed transmission technologies, and in computer technology, has penetrated to wide fields of the image industry. In the area of HDTV broadcasting, satellite broadcasting is planned using the BS-III broadcast satellites to be launched in 1990 and 1991. Attractive HDTV broadcasts will be delivered to homes throughout Japan, starting in 1991. The high technologies of HDTV thus developed, are also greatly affecting the improvement and evolution of the existing TV system which has a broadcast history of 30 years.<>