Groundbreaking 8K LED Video Wall Provides Massive Canvas for Delivery of Stunning Broadcast and Video Content

In the display arena, growing trends include ultra-large video walls, driven by LED technology, capable of supporting very high resolution (e.g.,8K) content. One product reflecting these trends is the Planar TWA Series line of fine-pitch LED video walls, which the company has installed for many marquee customers and myriad applications worldwide. A key member of the Planar TWA Series, the Planar TWA1.2 (1.2 millimeter pixel pitch) LED video wall, was recently exhibited at the 2016 National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show. NAB is the world's largest and most prestigious annual convention covering filmed entertainment and the development, management and delivery of content across all mediums.

Many among the more than 100,000 NAB attendees visited the Planar booth – shared by its partner company, Planar Systems - in search of new, innovative and emerging technologies. Potential users saw this massive 560 square foot (52 square meters) LED video wall, and recognized its applicability to their markets.

"This 8K LED video wall is an example of our industry-leading engineering," says Jennifer Davis, chief marketing officer for Planar. "It affirms the company's leadership in the broadcast and media industries and our commitment to design display solutions that help these industries deliver an unprecedented level of compelling content to viewers."

Particular applicability to broadcast industry

The Planar TWA Series is a line of LED video walls available in 1.2, 1.8 and 2.5 millimeter pitches. The Planar TWA1.2 LED wall debuted at NAB is of particular value in the broadcast industry for a number of reasons. By its nature, for example, a wall such as this, composed of very small LEDs, means that the LED screens are thinner (3.94 inches) than walls of other technologies. This makes Planar TWA Series video walls better suited to broadcast applications – including on-set environments that are often space constrained.

Also, the Planar TWA1.2 8K video wall shown at NAB was composed of 64 individual displays, each with 1.2 millimeter pixel pitch, delivering 7680 x 4320 resolution. Close up viewing is exceptional—between nine and 12 feet from the wall, the pixels are indiscernible.

But especially important is the fact that the wall delivers an exceptionally crisp, high-contrast (3200:1) image that is rich in colors (92% NTSC) including the deepest level of black. As a result, an LED wall such as this provides maximum full color brightness uniformity. An added benefit is that LEDs in the Planar TWA Series video walls (including Planar TWA1.2) are dimmable, so they can provide lower light output levels as is often required in on-set applications.

Industry leading features and user benefits

NAB 2016 attendees who visited the Planar-Planar booth, saw and/or learned about other Planar TWA Series models and the features that make it a technology leader. Among these features are a 16:9 form factor optimized for the most popular high resolution standards; up to 54-inch cabinet design that minimizes the number of displays needed for a large wall, and fewer to align and fine-tune at installation; compatibility with the most widely used resolutions thus simplifying content development and video wall processing; a design that allows a 1.2 millimeter wall to optimally operate on up to 35 percent less power (less than 500 watts per cabinet) than other such LED walls; and high reliability reflected in a rated lifetime of 100,000 hours. Leading technology observers - including those in media and entertainment – acknowledged the breakthrough nature of the Planar TW Series, giving it five Best of Show Awards at NAB presented by TV Technology, Video Edge, Digital Video, Government Video and Sound & Video Contractor. NewBay Media's Best of Show Awards at NAB are evaluated by a panel of engineers and industry experts, and are selected based on innovation, feature set, cost efficiency and performance in serving the industry.