If you splashed out on a high definition television at Christmas, you're in for some bad news.

Japanese broadcasters and the BBC are already working on a successor which promises to deliver pictures in a quality 33 time better than the best HD sets on the market.

Super Hi-Vision is currently being tested by NHK, Japan's public broadcaster, but the BBC is planning to use the technology to screen the 2012 Olympics on big screens in city centres across the UK.

Experts say the new format could revolutionise the way in which people watch big sporting events, with every bead of sweat and straining muscle broadcast in perfect quality.

"It's as if you are actually at the stadium," said Vincent Letang, a senior television analyst at Screen Digest.

"It gives you an immersive feeling which standard high definition technology simply can't do."

Although still a relatively phenomenon, around seven million high-definition television sets were sold in the UK last year. However, Mr Letang said people who bought the sets had not wasted their money because the new technology was not being developed for the average living room.

"It's for big screen public broadcasts of concerts and sporting events. It's definitely not for the consumer market" he said.

"The improved quality won't be noticeable on a regular sized TV sets so people who have just bought high-definition sets really don't need to worry."

Masuru Kanazawa, a research engineer at NHK's Science and Technical Research Laboratory, agreed that format might not be suitable for the average viewer.

"It requires a screen size of at least 60 inches which means there are limits on the usage of the system," he said.

"It will depend on the viewing situation. Watching fast-moving images at close quarters could make people feel sick."

A spokesman for the BBC said: "We are collaborating with NHK with the possibility of using the technology for the big screen. It is not something for the average home."