AppleTV 4K and Apple Video Services.

They won't release a 2D HFR version of The Hobbit (they didn't release it in the cinemas in HFR 2D) - and Blu-ray doesn't support 3D at 1080p50 or 1080p60 - so it would either have to be half-resolution 1080p or released 720p. Neither were likely - and the 60Hz issue is still a biggie.

4k = yesterdays TV - We're looking at 8k https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/technology-45363106/8k-tvs-unveiled-by-samsung-and-lg-at-ifa-tech-show

Saw some 8k 4320/60p at IBC in 2009 or 2010, and watched some of the Olympics stuff in 2012.

Tokyo 2020 Olympics is planned to be 4320/120p. That should be amazing (if you can find somewhere to watch it in that format)

It never fails to amaze how "old" these systems are by the time they become common palace. No doubt 16k already exists in some lab situation

All technology is "old" by the time it reaches mainstream. That's the way it is.
Even computer parts that have literally rolled off the production line and into a computer near you is already at least one generation, sometime two, behind what Intel/AMD are currently working on.

I dare say 20k, 24k or even 32k are all potential future technologies, though this presumably puts us at a stage where we'll be able to literally see sweat dripping off everybody at the Olympics but the bigger question is, how effective is that going to be on most domestic TV screens of 26-54"?

Even 8k is pushing it as far as the limts of human vision are concerned. I suppose there will always be people who won't be happy until their TV fills their entire field of vision, though (even if that means you only ever really see about 25% of what's happening)...

Who fancies a 146" TV? Or an 85" 8k TV? According to this video Samsung say you can tell the difference between 4k and 8k if the TV's big enough:

Japan nearly shot some HD at the Moscow 1980 Olympics... I saw the LA 1984 HD test footage in 1989/1990ish...

That Japanese system is very close to the 1080i we use today. It really is amazing how 'old' some systems are.

8K is stunningly good on large projection screens. I saw the 2012 Aquatics 8K (4320/60p) live demos - and people watching the 8K were recognising friends in wideshots and ringing them!

Surely we’ll get to the point soon where it’s not actually worth making picture resolution any higher. Anything above 4K only has to be worth it for large, public screens or ardent home cinema buffs. I don’t believe the general public is that bothered about filling an entire wall of their house in order to be able to see each and every one of Huw Edwards’ nasal hairs in 8K. I struggle sometimes to tell the difference between HD and 4K on our 55” TV, and the other half still can’t tell the difference between SD and HD on it (and complains it’s too big and makes our house look chavvy).

Aren’t we just heading further into enthusiast only territory? Or will we just get to the stage where it’s as easy and cheap to broadcast everything in 8K or above*, and everyone just downscales to suit their needs?

*excluding BBC regional news, obviously. 😉

I'm quite happy with 1080 HD to be honest.

I think HDR and HFR are more important than 8K if I'm honest.