(Yicai Global) May 7 -- Shanghai will cultivate its ultra-high-definition video sector by introducing a public service UHD channel and cultivating a group of firms in the field to tap into opportunities in the emergent sector. 

Shanghai will introduce a free channel with 4K video content next year, the government released at a video summit yesterday. The city will launch another four paid 4K channels and set up a nationwide distribution and copyright platforms by 2022, with a reserve of 5,000 hours of original content. 

The total size of China's 4K industry is expected to exceed CNY4 trillion (USD590.2 billion) by 2022, Yicai Global learned at the summit. UHD is over twice as sharp as high definition which involves 1080p. 

Nearly 50 members, including state-owned TV operator Shanghai Oriental Pearl Group, set up the  Alliance of Shanghai UHD Video Industry at the conference with an aim to jointly develop the growing sector. 

Oriental Pearl Group's BestTV has established a 4K section on its website, offering over 2,200 hours of UHD video, including TV series, documentaries and sports shows, for more than 10 million users.

Editor: Dou Shicong, Emmi Laine