A landmark joint EBU/DVB workshop last May brought together key stakeholders in the fast developing world of UHDTV. The group identified areas where further investigations and tests would be required to enable informed decisions about the next steps for the new format. Next month's EBU workshop - entitled "UHDTV: Voices & Choices" - will open a new chapter in the story, presenting the results of the tests that have been carried out since the May event.

The Geneva workshop (25-26 November) has been designed to provide a basis on which to define potential roadmaps to UHDTV rollout for the different stakeholders. It is important to note that these roadmaps will differ according to the needs and priorities of the groups involved. PayTV operators will aim for a more aggressive timetable than Public Service Broadcasters, for many of whom the transition to HDTV remains the short to medium term focus.

While there has been growing hype around the topic of UHDTV, at IBC 2013 and elsewhere the EBU has emphasized that the new format must be about more than just resolution. Consumers can already purchase displays that are sold as "UHDTV", but these are typically QuadHD products that don't deliver the highly immersive experience that will come with true UHDTV.

One of the key outcomes of last May's workshop, already confirmed by preliminary test results, is that a really immersive experience for viewers needs to go further than increased resolution. UHDTV must include higher frame rates, a higher dynamic range and a wider range of colours, as well as an enhanced audio experience.

UHDTV: Voices & Choices will bring together a wide range of stakeholders. It will provide a platform for alignment of the various national UHDTV/HDTV forums from around Europe, but will also involve the professional and consumer industries, who will play a crucial role in discussing and defining the future of UHDTV.