The Story Behind the Buzz About 4K TV

Content providers including Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon are ready to take the plunge, offering programming for the new ultra-high definition 4K TVs from the likes of Sony and Samsung -- for now, at price points that will appeal only to the early adopter crowd.

On the scene at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Foolish tech and entertainment analyst Tim Beyers got an up-close look at some of the newest sets and was on hand at Samsung's press conference where director Michael Bay, in the midst of what was to be an endorsement of the new Samsung 4K TV, walked off stage. He joins Rex Moore to dissect the buzz around 4K television.

A full transcript follows the video.

How to be a rich couch potato

Of course you love TV and you know cable's going away. Disruptive programming models virtually assure its demise. But do you know how to profit from the upheaval? There's $2.2 trillion out there to be had. Currently, cable grabs a big piece of it. That won't last. And when cable falters, three companies are poised to benefit. Click here for their names. Hint: They're not Netflix, Google, and Apple. 

The Story Behind the 4K Buzz (Rex Moore / CES 2014)
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozhf5c5Pjec#action=share

Rex Moore: Sticking with TV, the big buzzword last year was 4K television -- probably even before that -- but where are we now with ultra-high definition, or 4K, television?

Tim Beyers: We have a lot more of it coming, and I think we can thank Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon for some of this, because Netflix in particular is going to have season two of House of Cards completely broadcast in 4K, and that's a new thing.

You need to have the content to make the 4K TV worthwhile and we know, here at CES, we had Samsung and Sony introduce new 4K TVs. In the unfortunate case with Samsung, they were going to have director Michael Bay, of Transformers fame -- frankly, we all thought it was a joke! -- but he came out onstage and he was going to do a big endorsement for the new 105" UltraHD Samsung curved display... and he flubbed the lines.

Moore: Yes, he did.

Beyers: He just walked right offstage. To their credit, Samsung said, "Well, it's Vegas, it's a live show..."

Moore: I'll tell you what, they probably got 10 times more publicity out of that than if that had not happened.

Beyers: Yes, and that's what some people are saying. Although the downside of that is that you don't know what else Samsung introduced; it overshadowed everything.

But, yes, you're right. Now, 4K is in the headlines -- partially because of this flub -- but also because there is so much content now that's starting to come and be ready for 4K. It's not just Netflix; we're talking about YouTube, Amazon is going to shoot all of its originals in 4K, so we'll see.

If enough content is there, consumers... I'm not ready to spend $3,000 on a 4K TV.

Moore: Neither am I. That is still one thing -- I think we're not there yet.

Beyers: Right.

Moore: Early adopters may be hopping in, but it's not ready for the masses yet.

Beyers: No, I don't think so. When you're looking at $3,000-$4,000 price points, it is truly for the early adopters. But there are some big names getting behind it, so it's an area to watch.

How to be a rich couch potato

Of course you love TV and you know cable's going away. Disruptive programming models virtually assure its demise. But do you know how to profit from the upheaval? There's $2.2 trillion out there to be had. Currently, cable grabs a big piece of it. That won't last. And when cable falters, three companies are poised to benefit. Click here for their names. Hint: They're not Netflix, Google, and Apple. 

The article originally appeared on Fool.com.

LG backs Netflix and YouTube to lead 4K content race

LG has backed Netflix and YouTube to dominate the 4K content race while traditional broadcasters languish.

With 4K TVs growing in popularity and reducing in price, attention has now turned to the rise of 4K programming, with LG backing Netflix and YouTube to lead the 4K content race.

Following its formal unveiling of a range of new 4K TVs, a collection that is set to vary in size and price, South Korean manufacturer LG has predicted that while Netflix and YouTube will tackle the 4K content race head-on, more traditional broadcasters are looking set to struggle.

"In the next six to twelve months Netflix and YouTube are going to be leading the distribution of 4K content", Darren Peterson, Senior Content and Services Manager for LG's TV division told TrustedReviews.

He added: "I don't see, at the moment, any UK broadcasters or satellite providers bringing 4K this year. They might do the odd test here and there but they are not ready to launch 4K properly."

With 3D, the TV industry's last flagship feature, having failed to engage users largely due to the widespread lack of extra-dimensional content, it has been suggested that providers are to focus a bigger push around 4K content to ensure the visually impressive features take off.

Explaining the company's thinking in backing more modern content providers over traditional broadcasters in the 4K race, LG's Peterson suggested that new media outlets are able to be more "agile" in their adopting of emerging technologies.

"It will be the new TV players that are able to be a bit more agile and start 4K content rollout before more traditional broadcasters," he told us.

"Netflix is launching 4K content around Q1, Q2 with the release of House of Cards season 2 and it has been filming all of their original programmes in 4K. YouTube is pioneering its own format for 4K that we also support."

This article originally published at Trusted Reviews here.

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