With the 4K industry gathering pace, a sustained flow of 4K content will be critical to the long-term success of 4K, Futuresource Consulting said last month.
While disc playback of 4K content will not be a possible until late 2015, over-the-top (OTT) service providers are already driving early deployment of 4K video services.
As with HD and more recently 3-D, 4K technologies are ahead of the rest in the content chain. The consumer electronics industry is also marketing 4K capable TVs to create an audience.
In 2014, shipments of 4K TV sets are expected to reach 11.6 million units – up 699% year-on-year – with China accounting for over 70% of worldwide demand.
By 2018, 100 million 4K TVs are expected to be sold each year, with ownership exceeding 20% in leading markets.
The falling cost of 4K TV sets and smaller screen sizes will also drive 4K adoption, Futuresource Consulting noted.
While consumers would want to get ready for more 4K content, the upscaling capabilities of 4K TVs would help consumers justify their purchase decisions in the short term.