While the market for High-Definition TV (HDTV) has hit the mainstream, the industry has already started speculating about the commercialization of Ultra-High Definition (UHD).

Market research firm, In-Stat, believes there will be a lengthy time period before the UHD market reaches a critical mass of 5% household penetration. However, as the initial market debuts over the next five to ten years, there will be ample opportunities for technology companies, manufacturers, service providers and media companies to experiment with business models and strategies to make UHD a strong business in the long term.

"UHD formats provide between four and sixteen times the resolution of Blu-ray or 1080p high definition as well as 22.2 multichannel three-dimensional sound," says Michelle Abraham, In-Stat analyst. "This is a vast improvement over the currently available end user viewing experience in the home."

Ultra-High Definition (UHD) video includes 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels) and 8K (7680 x 4320 pixels) resolution. This is significantly higher than today?s 1080p HD resolution. According to the In-Stat report, UHD will first be seen in the cinema. Then when the broadcast infrastructure is in place and consumers purchase new UHD TV sets they will be able to see UHD programs at home.

While the market will take many years to develop there will be ample opportunities for technology companies, manufacturers, service providers and media companies to experiment with business models and strategies to make UHD a strong business in the long term.

Acording to the report, the UHD mass market materializes between 2023 and 2024, when UHDTVs reach 10% global household penetration.

The research firm claims that the rising popularity of high resolution digital cinema and widespread availability of UHDTVs will seed the market.

The first 4K UHD broadcasts should start around 2017, while the first 8K UHD broadcasts should begin around 2022, the report says.

In-Stat also expects the total installed base of UHDTVs Europe to approach 5% household penetration until 2021, and increase to over 28.2% penetration by 2025.

Asia-Pacific, Japan are expected to be among the early adopter countries.