"4K TV and 4K Content" -Chicken and Egg Problem

[amit.nagar]

Almost all the major brands have introduced their 4K TVs in various sizes in CES 2013. Tech expert says 4K TVs are the future of TVs. Consumers are worried about the 4K content. From the consumer's prospective what should we do? Should we wait for enough 4K content first or should go straight to buy 4K TV while knowing the current situation?

 

[anuragn]

Almost all the major brands have introduced their 4K TVs in various sizes in CES 2013. Tech expert says 4K TVs are the future of TVs. Consumers are worried about the 4K content. From the consumer's prospective what should we do? Should we wait for enough 4K content first or should go straight to buy 4K TV while knowing the current situation?

There's not enough true Full HD content available, forget 4K. Just look at the number of satellite channels offering true HD, just a handful.
Last year, everyone said 3D was the future of TV. Till now, I dont see enough of true 3D content.
So I would wait and watch. Because even if I buy a 4K "future ready" TV today, by the time content becomes available (maybe 4-5 years down the line), the TV would already have become outdated!

 

[Thtpro]

Most people will wait for more 4K content to come out and prices to drop before buying 4K TV. Personally I cannot watch SD TV-- So all the stuff that I watch is in HD.

Does 4K make a difference- The answer is yes-- check out the attached image

Google Image Result for http://regmedia.co.uk/2011/04/12/4k2k_7.png

 

[technobhatt]

IMO there is no point in buying 4K TV until there are actual 4K content available for consumer use. 1080p seems pretty good enough for home use, even on 100 inch screen. I am saying this considering all the below points I have come to know.

- Currently even HD channels are being broadcast in 1080i only (not even in 1080p) due to bandwidth and cost issues. Forget about there will be any 4K entertainment channel available in near future. (I can bet... forget about India, there will be no 4K channel for next 20 years in India, I even doubt about rest of the world)

- The most advanced format available for consumer use is BluRay discs as of now, that too capable of showing only 1080 resolution max.

- Although 4K TV will be capable of up-scaling 1080p content. But how many of us liked watching SD channels on current HDTVs, SD channels looked better on CRT TVs. Same way we may not like upscaling of HD content on 4K TVs. We are yet to see how good a 1080i or 1080p content will look on 4K TV.

- [citation needed - consider it a rumor till then] I read in an online article that a compression algorithm is developed which can accommodate a 4K movie of 2 hours into a dual layer BluRay disc without loosing any quality. Even though that is possible, current Hardware systems (like Bluray Player, cables etc.) may not be compatible or capable to deliver 4K content.

- Currently REDRAY is the only player developed for playing 4K content, that too just seems like a protocol.
Before any 4K player comes into picture for consumer use, we can expect another format war. All the studios and production houses will have to come to a conclusion for a standard 4K format, before they start producing 4K content for consumer use.
REDRAY
Redray 4K Cinema Player is ready to pre-order: $1,450 for high-res, high framerate home viewing

 

[madhavk8]

Many of the big Hollywood movies from past 1-2 years have been shot in 4k digital. Also any film shot with relatively good 35mm film can be scanned in 4k without much of a problem !!! Hence once 4kTV's become popular there not be much scarcity of content !!

Only issue is broadcasting for DTH etc which will pose problems but with new compression standards like h.265 it can be addressed.

 

[asliarun]

Two reasons to buy a 4k TV. 1080p is only good for up to about 50 inches or so. I think 4k will really shine for 55 inches and above.

There is also a rumor that the next generation of consoles will support 4k.

 

[just4kix]

George Mallory was once asked the question "Why do you wish to climb Mt. Everest?" to which he replied "Because it's there". These have become famous quotes.

However, with due respect to all, we do not need to buy a 4K TV just because it is there.

 

[tirthankar]

Most people will wait for more 4K content to come out and prices to drop before buying 4K TV. Personally I cannot watch SD TV-- So all the stuff that I watch is in HD.

Does 4K make a difference- The answer is yes-- check out the attached image

Google Image Result for http://regmedia.co.uk/2011/04/12/4k2k_7.png

That link is NSFO.. should have given a disclaimer :indifferent14:

 

[Flash]

The same situation existed a couple of years ago. 720p, 1080p was in its nascent stage and hardly any content. However now its a completely different ball game.

The same can be said about every new technology enhancement .
From the humble CD to Blu ray.

So in time 4k will become mainstream.

AVR's started introducing 4k upscaling 2 years ago even though there was not a single TV capable of displaying this resolution .

So in time 4k will become mainstream and find a way into our houses very much like the 1080p.

I guess in a way it makes sense to be future ready

Now coming down to your question, if your pockets are deep enough , Why not !!.

 

[manzb]

Five years back, when I first bought my Sony LCD, there were few options from Full HD, but as there was no content available and the best content was Dish TV & DVDs, I went ahead and bought a HD ready tv, the difference between the two was about 30-40% extra. But considering that now HD content is becoming the mainstream today, I will not think twice that my next TV will be HDTV, regarding 4K, someone who has lots of dough will buy whether contents are available or not, just be in the privy league of "Neighbours Envy & Owners Pride". For most of us we will wait till contents are available more easily and also the prices of both TV & contents comes down to a realistic level to embrace the same. I think that will take no less than 3-5 years from now on.

 

[just4kix]

The same situation existed a couple of years ago. 720p, 1080p was in its nascent stage and hardly any content. However now its a completely different ball game.

The same can be said about every new technology enhancement .
From the humble CD to Blu ray.

So in time 4k will become mainstream.

AVR's started introducing 4k upscaling 2 years ago even though there was not a single TV capable of displaying this resolution .

So in time 4k will become mainstream and find a way into our houses very much like the 1080p.

I guess in a way it makes sense to be future ready

Now coming down to your question, if your pockets are deep enough , Why not !!.

Flash buddy, with due respect I tend to disagree a little.

Even today, a 1080p TV does not bring "day and night" difference over a 720p set. Purchasers of Panasonic X50/XT50, Samsung E490, etc. will confirm this. When I was buying my own set, I could not make out much difference between XT50, ST50 and GT50 (all 42") when the shop was playing DTH-HD. The only time I could make out some difference when very sharp objects and text was displayed. The normal viewing distance is 8 feet and at that distance on a 42" TV, I am not sure how much a 4K TV will be sweeping the 1080p TV aside.

As regards the AVRs upscaling content to 4K, I am not much impressed with the normal AVRs upscaling to 1080p (when feeding DTH or DVD content). I have not seen the Oppo 10x models in action; so cannot comment there.

General "Indian mango people" are still into VCD, camera prints, 6-movies-in-1 DVD, etc. 1080i HD reach is limited to metros and tier 2 cities. 1080p transmission is still some distance away. So why talk about 4k becoming mainstream? 4K may become mainstream in USA/Europe/ANZ, perhaps in 3~4 years but how long will it take to arrive in India, I cannot say. Even abroad I am not so sure. BD arrived in 2005-6 and became mainstream only in 2009. Even in 2009, there were just about 1500 titles or less available on BD. The economy is down the world over. Will these TVs become reasonably priced for the masses soon? Will people in Europe junk their 2K TVs in favour of the 4K TVs en-mass? I have my doubts.

 

[sbg]

In my opnion, people like sbg also exist in this world.:indifferent14:

he does purchase Sofa Covers before and then decides the sofa to purchase.
purchased about 5-10 BR movies( a year back ), but yet to get a proper player ( do have the BD player/writer in the pc but no Software).

no Chicken and Egg Problem here. if 4K TV is reasonably price now, I'll have one. contents can wait.

Just in case any of you get 4k and feel depressed about content - I do recomend timescapes.
Play this every time you switch on and before switch off your 4K tv. it does not matter what you watch rest of the time - you may have good sleep for sure.

 

[prosenjit]

I will rather buy a jvc projector with the price...if 4k tv become mainstream.
hope 1080 jvc/equivalent will be very cheap..and thats good for people like me...:lol:
but technically yes 720p is quite enough at 100 inch from a decent distance...
peoples opinion may vary

 

[reignofchaos]

Almost all current gen GPUs support 4k output. However good luck getting any 4k content.

 

[Santy]

4k might definitely make a big difference from 1080p if the screen was over 150" and you are sitting at 4 feet. Well, talk about neck sprain. hyeah:

But one thing. We must be thankful for all those who buy 4k TV or Projector or whatever today because they bear the entire development costs (in return for nothing) and make the technology cheaper for us, to buy tomorrow. :clapping:

 

[yrk1969]

Most people will wait for more 4K content to come out and prices to drop before buying 4K TV. Personally I cannot watch SD TV-- So all the stuff that I watch is in HD.

Does 4K make a difference- The answer is yes-- check out the attached image

Google Image Result for http://regmedia.co.uk/2011/04/12/4k2k_7.png

That picture is so very wrong. One would need to put his nose on the screen for 1080p to look so bad, and I think it still wouldn't.

4k might definitely make a big difference from 1080p if the screen was over 150" and you are sitting at 4 feet. Well, talk about neck sprain. hyeah:

Agree, that's about it.

These people are done milking the LCD/LED technology and need a new one to sell.

 

[tanmayj]

Regarding 4K TVs, I never would buy one simply because (well apart from the fact that I dont have the money! ) my room size is too small to require a 55"+ TV. I'm more interested in OLED TVs, which would have smaller panels. And going by my Samsung Galaxy S2, AMAZING QUALITY!!!

 

[adder]

With 4k you can watch in a big tv even if you have a small room ,you don't see the picture made up of pixels.I would gladly upgrade from my current 46" lcd to a 4k 65" or 70" tv.With a 1080p tv the max size i can view in my living room would be a 55" anything bigger like 60" or 65" i would start noticing the pixels.

The biggest hindrance to me buying 4k tv currently is not the content but rather the price.Since when i bought a 32" lcd tv in 2005 there was no HD content ,the only HD stuff i used to watch was microsoft WMV HD videos and movie trailers.There was no blu ray at the time in india nor was there the broadband speed to download HD conent.

 

[Flash]

Flash buddy, with due respect I tend to disagree a little.

Even today, a 1080p TV does not bring "day and night" difference over a 720p set. Purchasers of Panasonic X50/XT50, Samsung E490, etc. will confirm this. When I was buying my own set, I could not make out much difference between XT50, ST50 and GT50 (all 42") when the shop was playing DTH-HD. The only time I could make out some difference when very sharp objects and text was displayed. The normal viewing distance is 8 feet and at that distance on a 42" TV, I am not sure how much a 4K TV will be sweeping the 1080p TV aside.

Agree,
Though the resolution leap from 720 (1280720) to 1080 (19201080) is not as substantial as a 1080 to 4k (38402160) .

With larger screens 55" and above I guess 4k resolution would show its colors.

The question is would I buy one.
As Santy so rightly put it. Let the folks with really deep pockets buy one, hopefully in time it pushes down prices for us common folks

 

[Indian11]

Regarding 4K TVs, I never would buy one simply because (well apart from the fact that I dont have the money! ) my room size is too small to require a 55"+ TV. I'm more interested in OLED TVs, which would have smaller panels. And going by my Samsung Galaxy S2, AMAZING QUALITY!!!

4K and OLED are two different techs and as you yourself said that your room is to small for a 55" so just wanted to update that the oled is coming out in 55" size only...
on the other LG has also got the 55" and 65" ultra hdtv's...