The first trial 4K TV broadcasts begin next month in Japan and Sharp has already announced the Aquos TU-UD1000, a 4K TV recording and playback device. It will go on sale in Japan on June 25 for about ¥120,000 (US$1,183).

The TU-UD1000, which will go on sale in Japan on June 25 for about ¥120,000 (US$1,183), features an 1TB hard disk drive, which means it will be able to store about 53 hours of 4K TV shows under the trial broadcasting system.

Sharp also announced three Aquos UD20 series LCD 4K TVs, in 70-, 60- and 52-inch sizes, that require the TU-UD1000 to view and record satellite 4K programs. The TVs will go on sale in late June and mid-July.

Japanese conumers will be soon able to enjoy ultra-HD viewing with the new upcoming Channel 4K, a trial 4K HD channel to be launched by Japan?s Next Generation Television and Broadcasting Promotion Forum (NexTV-F). Broadcasting will start next month in June, and the channel will use Communication Satellite digital broadcasting (124 and 128) to broadcast the 4K signals.

Enabling the free channel will require a call request from NexTV-F, as well as a receiver unit and antenna that can receive CS digital broadcast signals. The TV signals will have a specific resolution of 3840?2160, at 4K 60P HEVC input.