Netflix Introduces 4k

Netflix recently added several ultra high-definition videos to its online streaming library. The company is gearing up to launch 4K HD to subscribers early next year.

The DVD rental-by-mail company started streaming video content online in 2007. From there, its customer base expanded as the company became increasingly popular. Several years later, Netflix decided to focus mainly on online streaming and created another company, Qwikster, to handle mail rentals. However, the decision proved to be a mistake for Netflix and the company eventually did away with its second company. However, Netflix has continued to keep its focus on mainly online streaming.

’El Fuente’

The footage added to Netflix’s online streaming library, all labeled variations of ‘El Fuente’, contains several short videos used by Netflix for its in-house testing. These short videos give viewers an inside look at what to expect when Netflix launches its ultra high-definition content next year. One video in particular, El Fuente: 50 MP, begins with a man walking along a shaded walkway and contains shots of a local Mexican market filled with colorful produce and smiling passersby. These short videos mainly consist of random shots-not stories-and are being used strictly for testing. They are available on their online streaming library.

4k Technology

Ultra-definition content is fairly new to the market. A handful of manufacturers make TV’s that display this cutting-edge technology, like Sony and Panasonic. These TV’s are expensive; their pricing starts at $4,000.

Typically, high-definition contains 1080p content. Now that 4K HD has been introduced, it will offer content four times the resolution amount. Netflix wants to be one of the largest suppliers of 4K HD content in 2014. Many predict the company will use original content to solidify their ultra high-definition streaming. From there, they will add TV shows and movies from licensing partners.

4k Challenge

One of the main challenges Netflix faces as they prepare to launch 4K is the connection speed of its online streamers. Netflix’s CEO, Reed Hastings, recently said that subscribers will need a connection speed of about 15mbps in order to cope with the ultra high-definition streaming. The United States’ national average is somewhere around 18mbps (megabits per second). More than half the country will be able to stream 4K HD without any problems, but there is still a great number of subscribers who will experience slow internet connection speed and, therefore, will not be able to stream 4K HD smoothly.

As Netflix prepares to launch 4K, hopefully they will be able to find a way to offer slower internet connection subscribers a chance to view their new ultra high-definition content.

This is just one of the innovations in online video that is keeping consumers interested. Although not all consumers will have a connection speed fast enough to use 4k HD when it launches in earnest, it will likely only be a short period of time before the nation catches up to this new innovation in video delivery.