Next Gen Roku Hardware To Support 4K Ultra HD Streaming
With the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas kicking off today, you can expect a bevy of product and service announcements, one of them being Roku's plans to support 4K Ultra HD streaming for future Roku TV models. The company said it's prepared a Roku TV reference design for 4K smart TVs and will license the blueprint to OEM partners.
That's great for the hardware side of things, but what about software? On that front, Roku is working its connections to bring more 4K content into homes. That includes greasing the wheels at Netflix, which Roku says will provide 4K content for streaming on the Roku platform in 2015.
"As one of the first streaming services to offer 4K Ultra HD content to our customers, it’s important for Netflix to work closely with partners like Roku to give consumers more streaming options," said Neil Hunt, chief product officer of Netflix. "We look forward to bringing Netflix 4K Ultra HD content to Roku customers."
Don't be surprised if this is the year that 4K becomes truly mainstream. Citing data provided by Business Insider Intelligence, Roku points out that between 2012 and 2014, prices for 4K TVs in North America dropped nearly 90 percent.
"With the maturation of 4K, including the dramatic price reductions of 4K TVs, the growing amount of 4K content available for streaming and the increased consumer awareness of the benefits of 4K, the time is right for Roku to offer Roku TV 4K solutions to global TV OEMs," said Roku Chief Executive Officer Anthony Wood. "We are very bullish on 4K as we believe that streaming will be instrumental in its adoption. Bringing 4K to the Roku platform will give consumers even more choice and control of their entertainment viewing, and deliver the best streaming experience available."
If you're in the market for a new television and/or want to upgrade to 4K, hold fast for the inevitable sales in the coming weeks. The closer we get to the Super Bowl, the better the prices will be.
That's great for the hardware side of things, but what about software? On that front, Roku is working its connections to bring more 4K content into homes. That includes greasing the wheels at Netflix, which Roku says will provide 4K content for streaming on the Roku platform in 2015.
"As one of the first streaming services to offer 4K Ultra HD content to our customers, it’s important for Netflix to work closely with partners like Roku to give consumers more streaming options," said Neil Hunt, chief product officer of Netflix. "We look forward to bringing Netflix 4K Ultra HD content to Roku customers."
Don't be surprised if this is the year that 4K becomes truly mainstream. Citing data provided by Business Insider Intelligence, Roku points out that between 2012 and 2014, prices for 4K TVs in North America dropped nearly 90 percent.
"With the maturation of 4K, including the dramatic price reductions of 4K TVs, the growing amount of 4K content available for streaming and the increased consumer awareness of the benefits of 4K, the time is right for Roku to offer Roku TV 4K solutions to global TV OEMs," said Roku Chief Executive Officer Anthony Wood. "We are very bullish on 4K as we believe that streaming will be instrumental in its adoption. Bringing 4K to the Roku platform will give consumers even more choice and control of their entertainment viewing, and deliver the best streaming experience available."
If you're in the market for a new television and/or want to upgrade to 4K, hold fast for the inevitable sales in the coming weeks. The closer we get to the Super Bowl, the better the prices will be.
