The next-generation of ultra-high definition TV adopting the highest resolution technology is expected to be available for consumers from 2018, with South Korean TV makers forecast to push for its mass-production, a report said Monday.      

Given that a new cycle for an upgrade in a display panel comes around every six years, global TV manufacturers will likely adopt the so-called 8K resolution technology as a new standard in the market from 2018, according to a report by market tracker DisplaySearch, which was published via its blog.

The 8K refers to the horizontal resolution of the display format, which is about 8,000 pixels. It is considered the successor to the 4K resolution of 3,840 pixels wide, which is currently limited to satellite or Internet TVs.

The 8K has 16 times as many pixels as the current mainstream HD standard that comes with 1,080 pixels and that enables transmission of details at a level equivalent to an IMAX screen.

The high-definition panel had been the mainstream display between 2000 and 2006, followed by the full HD from 2006 until 2012 and the UHD expected to reign the global market for the 2012-2018 period, the report said. 

The market tracker bet there is a high chance that South Korean TV makers will start mass-production of the 8K panels from 2016, since they won't let their Taiwanese or Chinese rivals take the lead this time like they ended up lagging behind them at the early stage of the 4K adoption in 2012, according to the report.

As the process of developing such a high-resolution display technology for mass consumers will incur high costs for TV makers, how to overcome the cost burden will be key to a smooth transition of the 8K panels, it added. (Yonhap)