Japanese public service broadcaster NHK has been developing new techniques and systems for broadcasting since its formation in 1930.

The IBC International Honour for Excellence is presented each year to an outstanding individual or organisation that has fostered or contributed to the relationship between technology and creativity in the broadcast, movie or media industries. In 2011 the award went to Sir David Attenborough. Previous recipients have included Director James Cameron, Aardman Animation, Manolo Romero, Managing Director, Olympic Broadcasting Services and the BBC Natural History Unit.

Having recently celebrated its 80th anniversary, NHK Science and Technology Research Laboratories has been contributing to research in broadcast, working on both practical solutions to current issues and future systems that change the way professionals create content and audiences enjoy it. NHK STRL pioneered high definition television as it is used today, including the development of plasma displays. It has recently been awarded an IEEE Milestone Award for the world’s first direct to home satellite broadcast service in 1984.

Among its current strands of research is Super Hi-Vision, its implementation of high resolution broadcasting which offers a screen resolution 16 times greater than today’s HD, together with 22.2 channel immersive surround sound. NHK STRL engineers are working on the complete chain, from high resolution high speed CMOS cameras through recording and transmission equipment to screens and projection displays.

It is also addressing the second screen, helping a consortium of broadcasters launch an experimental service, Hybridcast, which synchronises content on a tablet with the programme on television.

The IBC2012 International Honour for Excellence will be presented to NHK STRL during the Awards Ceremony, to be held at 18:30 on Sunday 9 September and open to all IBC attendees. www.ibc.org/awards