Skip to main content

Amazon reportedly prepping 4K streaming for tentative October launch

While Netflix is currently the top dog of 4K streaming, Amazon is set to begin piping its own 4K streams as early as October of this year. That’s according to a press release in which, interestingly enough, Samsung revealed the information. Samsung announced this morning that its 2014 smart UHD 4K TV line will be able to support Amazon’s Prime Instant Video Ultra-HD streaming service when it launches in October.

Related: ‘Breaking Bad’ now available on Netflix in sparkling 4K/UHD resolution

Recommended Videos

Last week the marketing director for the online retail giant’s Prime Instant Video service confirmed that Amazon has a team specifically dedicated to preparing and releasing 4K content this year and beyond. He didn’t, however, give any indication as to when the high-resolution video would be made available. Additionally, Amazon Studios has already announced its plans to shoot each of its original series in 4K resolution from here on out.

As the industry prepares for an inevitable rollover to the higher resolution that will expand exponentially within the next few years, many are choosing to additionally film movies and TV in UHD, though exactly how it will be distributed is still being determined. A recent study predicts that 4K televisions will trace a popularity/price trajectory similar to that of HDTVs over the last 15-year period – except 4K panels will become just as ubiquitous in 10-12 years, instead.

Amazon’s move into 4K territory will clearly benefit Samsung, too. While Netflix has managed to integrate 4K streams of its original series mainstays Breaking Bad and House of Cards online this year, we’ve yet to see anything else materialize for Netflix in the new format. With a serious lack of available 4K content currently, there’s not much of an incentive right now for most viewers to shell out for a screen that supports the resolution – especially considering prices for UHD/4K TVs are often as much as double that of their 1080p HD counterparts. Samsung’s move to support streaming of 4K offerings from Amazon is an initial step toward heightening awareness of and building buzz for the approaching 4K tide.

Alex Tretbar
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Alex Tretbar, audio/video intern, is a writer, editor, musician, gamer and sci-fi nerd raised on EverQuest and Magic: The…
Topics
The TCL QM8K is out, so the QM6K is 19% off and the QM7K is 33% off
A lifestyle image of the TCL QM7K in a living room.

For those who are on the hunt for TV deals to upgrade their home theater setup, we highly recommend going for TCL. It's made a name as one of the best TV brands with the value that its products provide, and the flagship TCL QM8K, which we gave a score of 4.5 stars out of 5 stars in our review, is an excellent example of this. However, we'd like to highlight the discounts from Amazon on two other models in the same line: the 65-inch TCL QM6K at 19% off, for a $148 discount that brings it down to $650, and the 65-inch TCL QM7K at 33% off, for a $502 discount that brings it down to $998.

The savings that you can get for the 65-inch TCL QM6K and the 65-inch TCL QM7K aren't going to last forever though. There's no telling how much time is remaining on these savings, or when the stocks that are up for sale will run out. If you're interested in buying either one of these QD-Mini LED TVs, we highly recommend proceeding with your purchase as soon as you can.

Read more
Buy your dad an Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, get it by Father’s Day, and save 40%
The newest version of the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K has WiFi 6.

Not every Father's Day gift has to be something new, big, and exciting. If your dad's idea of the best TV ever is the one he already has, but you all know it could use a boost, then you should take a look at this great offer on the latest version of the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K. Usually $50, you can save 40% and get one for just $30 at this time (that's a savings of $20). As of June 12, Amazon says the TV upgrade will arrive two days before Father's Day if you use the fastest shipping (available free with your Amazon Prime free trial). That means I could order it as late as July 14 and get the device on Father's Day. Your particular situation could vary, so tap the button below and check out the info for yourself. Otherwise, keep reading to see all the details and figure out if the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is a good gift for Dad (or yourself).

BUY NOW

Read more
This 85-inch Toshiba 4K TV is only $650 today after a 46% discount
The Toshiba C350 Series 4K TV on a white background.

If you've always wanted a massive screen for your home theater setup, you need to check out one of the most interesting TV deals that we've recently seen: the 85-inch Toshiba C350 Series 4K TV for only $650, for savings of $550 on its original price of $1,200. The 46% discount is a limited-time offer though, and if it caught our attention, there's also probably a lot of other shoppers who are considering taking advantage of this bargain. You'll miss out if you take too long to think about it!

BUY NOW

Read more