Netflix Makes a Splash at CES 2014

There was no Netflix booth, yet Netflix garnered quite a bit of publicity during the recent International Consumer Electronics Show.  It wasn’t a booth that caught the media’s attention, it was Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix, who spoke during the LG Press Conference.  You see, last year, the big hit of the show was the 4K televisions introduced with their ultra HD incredible graphics and clarity.  The colors and pictures were stunning, something I found hard to believe, considering HDTV was already an incredible difference from our standard TV’s of the past.

4K TV vs HDTV

source:  TigerDirect.com

As you can see from the table and graph above, 4K TV has 4 times the resolution of standard HD, resulting in better color, a larger viewing screen, incredible graphic detail, and an overall more realistic picture.

This year, 4K TV’s only became bigger…and in many cases curved, to offer a more immersive viewing experience.  

The 4K TV’s are beautiful but there’s only 2 problems.  

1. First, since they are new, they are expensive because there is not enough demand for the parts used to make them.  
2. Second, there is not content for them.   Movie and TV production companies are only now beginning to use 4K cameras in their shoots, but most are not filmed in 4K.  Sony is one of the most progressive in filming with 4K.  They are preparing for this future.

Nonetheless, in an article on The Verge, Sony CEO Kaz Hirai stated it would take anywhere from five to seven years for 4K sets to be widely adopted.

Netflix in 4K Leading the Way

Netflix caused such a stir because at the LG Press conference, Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix, re-emphasized their commitment and enthusiasm for Netflix in 4K streaming, giving TV manufactures hope of 4K’s lasting future.  Netflix has been working with a number of TV manufacturers to bring 4K content to consumers’ homes.  Blu-ray discs are not large enough to hold  4K content and Netflix does not believe consumers will won’t to upgrade their Blu-ray players.  Netflix believes that streaming will be the best way to get 4K content into the house.  

To help lead this charge, Netflix has already begun filming some of their original programming in 4K format.  They have added seven 4K videos to their service in the past month.  Netflix’ Emmy winner House of Cards‘ second season will launch in 4K and made available during the second quarter of this year.  They plan on launch a fuller 4K offering next year.  As stated by Reed Hastings,  “We want to be one of the big suppliers of 4K next year.”

Netflix is well poised to lead the charge to produce and stream 4K streaming through their own studios and with their partnerships with other TV companies and production houses.  3D TV didn’t make it, but Netflix is banking on the fact that 4K TV’s will.  By leading the charge, consumers will be drawn to Netflix content first, giving Netflix a major foothold on the market while linear TV companies (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, Bravo, etc.) try to catch up.

TV companies have created their own field of dreams with 4K TV’s…and hoped “if they build it, they will come.”  But consumers won’t come without content.  TV manufacturers are looking to Netflix as the leader they need to spur on this exciting, more visually appealing new frontier.

*    I am a member of the Netflix Stream Team and was provided with streaming service for my time. All thoughts and opinions are my own.