Netflix: Expect 4K Streaming Within 2 Years

As 4K Ultra HD slowly morphs into acceptance, many are wondering how the new technology will work with the already bandwidth-intensive streaming video services. Speaking to The Verge, Netflix chief product officer Neil Hunt says the company is committed to the standard and we could see 4K streaming in a couple years.

There's a train of thought where 4K could be a way for film studios and television networks to strangle the life-blood from on-demand streaming services like Netflix. But according to Hunt, streaming may actually be the first arena for the 4K format.

"That's because of the challenges involved in upgrading broadcast technologies and the fact that it isn't anticipated within the Blu-ray disc standard," Hunt told The Verge. "Clearly, we have much work to do with the compression and decode capability, but we expect to be delivering 4K within a year or two with at least some movies."

Hunt mentions House of Cards, the Netflix-exclusive series starring Kevin Spacey, as another example of the push to 4K. Apparently, most of the show is filmed in the 4K standard.

Hunt also mentions a need for content providers to agree upon a delivery standard for media, as the company is currently rejecting as much as 30-percent of delivered material due to factors like incorrect episodes, or shows with the broadcast commercials left intact.

Sony recently announced it will explore a 4K streaming video service, as the PlayStation 4 will be capable of displaying 4K content.

Matt Clark is a freelance writer covering the world of videogames, tech, and popular culture. Follow him on Twitter @ClarkMatt and MyIGN at Matt_Clark.

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