Full Transparency
Our editorial transparency tool uses blockchain technology to permanently log all changes made to official releases after publication. However, this post is not an official release and therefore not tracked. Visit our learn more for more information.
Amid the thousands of products unveiled, displayed and demonstrated at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show, one category that continues to generate post-CES buzz is the 4K, or Ultra High Definition (UHD) TV. It’s called 4K because this next wave in eye-popping video resolution squeezes 8.3 million pixels into a single UHD display -- the equivalent of four 1080p HD screens! To learn more about 4K TV technology and performance, check out these recent articles on CNET and Digital Trends.
But before you start making room for a 4K screen in your home, you may want to check the price tag. The Hollywood Reporter reports that the first 4K TVs cost between $20,000 to $25,000, the kind of money that could buy a new compact car. Industry experts say the retail price of UHD TVs will gradually go down over the next two to five years, eventually declining to levels that the masses can afford. And that’s okay, because pundits also predict that it’s going to be a while before programming in 4K format becomes widely available.
Those of you who have followed the introduction of 3D TV are familiar with this “chicken or the egg” dilemma. Creating UHD programming will require capital investment in new 4K video production equipment, as well as distribution technologies that have yet to be fully developed. In the meantime, with the number of installed 4K TVs expected to gradually ramp up as the price of the screens goes down, there isn’t a lot of incentive for pedal to be put to the metal.
If you’re a Verizon FiOS customer, however, there is a silver lining to this story: When in fact 4K becomes a reality, your high bandwidth, fiber-to-the-home connection will already be capable of feeding your new monster UHD TV all the Ultra High Definition content that's available. Until then, sit back and enjoy your HDTV on FiOS TV, the highest quality video experience available to your home today.
