CES 2015: Will this be the year of 4K TV?
IRVINE, Calif. — Is this the year 4K TV finally takes off with consumers?
Analysts thought it would happen in 2014, but it didn't happen, mostly due to the high prices of most the TVs. They're called 4K because they offer 8 million pixels, or about four times the resolution of 1080p 2 million pixel high definition. You might see them marketed as "Ultra-HD."
This year analysts believe 4K will start to resonate, and we will see the results of this at the Consumer Electronics Show, which gets under way in Las Vegas this weekend.
There will be many more 4K models available, and they will be much cheaper, says Richard Doherty, an analyst with the Envisioneering Group.
"You'll see price points come down much faster than HD did a decade ago," he says.
In 2014, TV manufacturer Vizio turned a lot of heads with its P series 4K TV models that start at $999.
The result? "We couldn't keep them in stock," says Vizio vice-president John Schindler.
Amazon's 4K selection showcases other models selling for $1,500 to $3,000.
4K IN 2015: MORE PROGRAMMING
Owners of new 4K TV sets haven't been able to watch TV shows in 4K, because CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox and the cable networks don't broadcast them that way.
Consumers are already used to seeing the option of watching their videos on streaming services like Amazon in standard definition or HD, high-def.
Then at the end of 2014, Netflix and Amazon quietly began offering a limited selection of movies in 4K.
To view at that level of sharpness, Netflix charges extra for your subscription, while Amazon doesn't.
Additionally, you need to have a really good Internet signal to watch 4K TV without buffering or interruptions.
At CES, Doherty expects to see many announcements from programmers of 4K availability—most notably from satellite providers the Dish Network and DirecTV.
Beyond just the TVs, Doherty says we'll be seeing 4K in other forms in 2015. These include preview screens on smartphones, tablets and more.
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