Skip to main content

Trickle or stream? Netlix says 4K streaming begins January

netflix-4k-ultra-hd
Image used with permission by copyright holder

After months of hints, speculation, and valid questions throughout the industry about viability, Netflix is going for it and launching 4K streaming … next month. A report by The Verge reveals that Netflix has already put a plan in place to pipe the sparkling clear Ultra HD resolution into living rooms sometime in January.

However, for those early adopters of the technology, it’s not all roses and rainbows in 4K land just yet, and for a host of reasons. The biggest caveat to the news is a revelation from the company’s Chief Product Officer, Neil Hunt, to Stuff magazine that only select manufacturers will be getting the 4K streams, with a planned announcement of exactly which TVs will be compatible at this year’s CES. The unnamed TVs with the magic touch will be running the 4K streams through onboard Netflix apps, with a possible introduction of 4K streaming to both PS4 and Xbox One consoles being hinted at “eventually.”

Another issue at hand includes a standard problem throughout the entertainment industry with introducing 4K at this stage in the game: the lack of available 4K content. Netflix has one ace in the hole in that department in the form of its hit series “House of Cards,” which is shot in 4K, and Hunt revealed the 2nd season as the flagship series for the company’s introductory 4K run. Hunt explained that Netflix will be starting small in an attempt to jump start the technology, saying that the company’s initial slate of 4K content will consist of  “… a set of sample offerings, not a big part of the catalog.”

Apart from those concerns, other barriers 4K enthusiasts will face include both a short supply of available internet connections speedy enough to run the massive streams, as well as questions about 4K compression. While Hunt recently promised that 4K streaming will only require speeds of around 15 Mbps, that’s still well above what the average American routinely receives. And besides the need for speed, many are skeptical about what 4K content will actually look like at the other side of the pipe at the high compression rates it will take to make 4K streaming a reality.

Regardless of the obstacles at hand, Netflix has rarely shied away from a challenge, and Hunt’s confidence in the new technology is palpable. We’ll find out more about which TVs will get the new blast of high density resolution, and when, in a few short weeks at CES 2014. Until then, we’d like to hear your thoughts on this ostensible shot from the hip from the biggest streaming outfit around.

Editors' Recommendations

Ryan Waniata
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ryan Waniata is a multi-year veteran of the digital media industry, a lover of all things tech, audio, and TV, and a…
Hurry — this 65-inch TCL 4K TV is discounted to $400
TCL S Class S4 LED 4K TV.

TCL S4 4K HDR TV. TCL / TCL

Amazon has one of the better value TV deals around at the moment: $50 off the TCL 65-inch S4 4K TV, bringing it down to $400. A pretty sweet price for a large TV like this, it's sure to be worth your time and money. Let's take a quick look at what it offers before you hit the buy button. Don't count on it staying this price for long.

Read more
Don’t miss your chance to get this 55-inch 4K TV for $270
The Insignia F30 Series 4K TV mounted on a wall with the Fire TV interface on the screen.

Best Buy has one of the cheaper TV deals out there with $130 off the Insignia 55-inch F30 Series 4K TV. Already priced at a very respectable $400, it's even cheaper now thanks to the $130 discount bringing it down to $270. If you've been waiting to buy a cheap 4K TV for your living room, bedroom or den, this is a good opportunity to do so. Here's everything else you might need to know about the Insignia 55-inch F30 Series 4K TV before you commit to a purchase.

Why you should buy the Insignia 55-inch F30 Series 4K TV
While Insignia doesn't feature in our look at the best TV brands, it's still a fairly well-regarded name in the budget TV world. Owned by Best Buy, it's ideal if you just need something inexpensive rather than a powerhouse for your home cinema. With the Insignia 55-inch F30 Series 4K TV, you get a 55-inch 4K display with HDR10 support so that you gain a wide range of color details along with sharper contrast. While it might not rival the looks of the very best TVs, you've still got something that's likely to look better than your previous TV.

Read more
This Samsung 55-inch 4K TV just had its price slashed to $350
Samsung 55-inch class 4K Crystal UHD 2160p TV with HDR for Super Bowl 2022.

Best Buy is frequently the home of great TV deals and that's easily the case today with an awesome offer on the Samsung 55-inch TU690T 4K TV. Usually priced at $430, it's down to $350 so you save $80 off the regular price. This is a particularly good deal given it's a TV from a great company. If this sounds appealing to you already, keep reading while we tell you more about it.

Why you should buy the Samsung 55-inch TU690T 4K TV
With Samsung being one of the best TV brands out there, it's always a smart move to check out what it's offering. Of course, you get a great 55-inch 4K screen. It has HDR support so you can enjoy a wide spectrum of colors along with better visual details even in dark scenes. There's also PurColor support so that colors on screen are fine-tuned to how they are meant to look so you get a better image every time.

Read more