Elemental to supply Korean telcos with 4K platform


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Michelle Clancy

| 26 May 2016




Elemental Technologies is providing the technology platform for a rush of 4K Ultra HD (UHD) over-the-top (OTT) and direct-to-home (DTH) services in South Korea.



david godfrey elementalMarket leaders KT and SK Broadband have both launched UHD services using Elemental high-efficiency video coding (HEVC) software.

Asia represents one of the world’s fastest growing UHD markets, with Korea reported as the largest UHD TV market in the region by research firm GFK.

KT, meanwhile, launched its media business seven years ago, and is expecting 20% revenue growth in 2016, and to boost its pay TV subscriber base by a half million to bring its total subscribers to approximately seven million. It has launches a handful of 4K channels.

SK Broadband, also a telco leader in South Korea, is investing 320 billion Won (about $265 million USD) in its own creative content this year, which is equivalent to nearly half the country’s drama budget. It is also investing in its delivery infrastructure to meet continually growing demand, and to provide 4K content to more of its subscribers.

“South Korea is at the forefront of 4K in Asia,” said Elemental vice president David Godfrey, for the region. “Elemental is very excited to be working with both KT and SK Broadband on their UHD multiscreen services from initial launch to recent expansions. Audiences are clearly voting with their subscriptions for the crisp, lifelike images of 4K video.”