Talk of 4K television being on the verge of becoming the “next big thing” is a bit premature according to one research firm, which says that the technology is set to remain a “niche market” for several years yet.
The Diffusion Group (TDG) says that those professing such “rosy forecasts” are being “overly optimistic”, arguing that we’re still about five years away from 4K becoming a common sight in our living rooms.
There have been several claims that ultra high-definition (UHD) TV will become ‘industry standard’ the moment audiences come to realise how awesome the technology really is. But TDG begs to differ, saying that the realities of 4K’s high price tag, a dearth of genuine 4K content, and low consumer awareness are likely to hold back sales for some time to come.
In spite of its caution, TDG does predict that 4K will eventually force its way into our living rooms. When “widespread viewing” of 4K content arrives in 2019, adoption should grow rapidly after that. It says that consumer purchases of hardware capable of streaming 4K media will be the driving force in its growth.
Leading the way will be companies like Amazon, Apple and Roku, which will offer a variety of 4K Ultra HD content in the coming years that sparks interest from consumers. But while TDG says streaming will be the main medium of delivery, it estimates that physical media will account for about a fifth of 4K viewing by 2017 – a small hint perhaps, that we might not have to wait too long before we see the first batch of 4K Blu-rays hitting the shelves.
For their part, TV manufacturers seem determined to prove cautious analysts like TDG wrong, with the trend moving towards lower and lower prices – most recently, Chinese firm Seiki began selling a 50-inch 4K model priced at just £599, though it remains to be seen how this compares to higher-priced sets from more established brands like Samsung, Sony and LG Electronics.
But cheaper TV sets does nothing to solve the bigger problem of there being virtually nothing to watch on them. Netflix was the first major company to begin offering 4K content, but its current catalogue is best described as “minimal”. As for when satellite broadcasters like Sky TV might get in on the act, that’s still anyone’s guess.
Source: The Diffusion Group
Absolute nonsense .. We are now at the same stage as 1080 was in 2006 .. all major manufacturers high end models now have 4k (the same equivalent models and priceranges that last year were still 1080) next year UHD will filter down to mid range models and by 2016 all but the most basic models will be enabled , kind of like the most basic models of recent years only being “hd ready”, these will become 1080 ..
As for content, sky will be bringing out uhd boxes next year (no doubt followed 6 months later by virgin) which would mirror what happened in 2007 regards full hd . 2008 to 2009 were the years when 1080 really went mainstream so by the same reckoning we will see 4k become mainstream in 2016-2017 .
Hi dave ;
you Are Right , but it is 2007 not 2006 where most high end tv`s are 1080p , so we are in 2007 stage , and based on your argument 2018 will be the mainstream , I Lean more toward what diffusion groub says .
Well I couldn’t care less for 4K and haven’t met anyone who could. Most of them are happy with SD (buying DVDs, streaming, broadcast TV) still, so what chance is there that they’ll upgrade to 4K.
There are even people who still have a CRT as their main TV and think nothing of it.
4K is like Bluray… another format/system too soon after one replaced another.
No doubt the (extremely niche in spite of all the big fuss they make of it) home cinema crowd will deny all this, but the man in the street is what counts
yeah , but the man in the street unfortunately always led by these companies , that`s why plasma die , and from now on you will be forced to go 4k if you want full array lcd tv .
@Dave. Full HD mainstream in 2009? What the hell are you talking about? In the biggest (and one of the richest) european county Germany 720p started in 2010, till today there is no chanelle that broadcasts in Full HD and the DVD market is still 3 times bigger than Blu Ray.
Like anything involving technology the arguments are esoteric and depend on individual expectations for gaining more bang for your buck. SD TV is still perfectly adequate for free to air viewing as content is usually compressed or not good enough to be fully appreciated on HDTV or 4K. When 4K Bluerays become available the complete Home Theatre set-up will justify the investment for those keen and cashed up enough.
Don’t listen to morons which do the reviews. All of them predicted depressed home prices for decades. Now watch the rise if new home bubble just in one single year
4k will go mainstream as soon as China will sell 75″ and larger TVs for $1000 or less with all warranties (3 years for TV and guaranteed payment return) and ensures no customs duties and reliable direct delivery to your home. One more year.
/* Please change freaking design of this website, it’s too damn archaic and annoying. Add editing, text rescaling. Remove gargantual edge bezel at least, you’re so out of fashion (wjere are tvs with huge bezels lately ?Lol ). Users comments must be ON since they are often more valuable then the article itself
If manufacturers want 4k to spread faster they just need one reliable thing: rize the screen sizes. The image pixelation on 85″ 1080 screen will madden anyone. Lol. Seriously though, small TVs are not compatible with 4K just by physics of our vision
But manufacturers and middlemen actually don’t need any acceleration, they want exactly opposite — to slow it keeping absurdous prices for larger sets indefinitely. It is China which painfully kicks their pricefixing butts via direct sales. You can buy curved 65″ 4K Samsung TV set which is equivalent to 75-77″ for just $1500 with free delivery. That is 3 times cheaper then via middleman
I was talking about the situation in the UK. Sky tv introduced their 1080i hd service in 2007 . Late In that year i bought a midrange samsung le40 lcd which was 1080 resolution . by 2009 everyone i knew who had sky had upgraded to hd box ,especially as the started giving them away pretty much ..
Yes, our customers would like bigger and bigger screen, and we’re planning to manufacture 85″ LED TV. 4K will be also brought to Hongkong Electronic Fair next month.