IPTV & 4K UHD

Do any of the IPTV providers supply 4K UHD channel content with their packages?

Generally speaking, not at the moment, though you may see the odd one creep in. We have tested 4k ourselves.


Few reasons for this.

1. Many people overseas don't get a 'rock solid' 15 mbps download speed, so uptake would be low.

2. HD takes up 4-5 bandwidth of SD and 4K much more still, making very expensive to host.

Summary, very little live original 4K content about any way, football aside. Would cost a fortune to host and put IPTV prices through the roof, which people won't pay.

As is per usual as speeds creep up and hosting costs go down, we should see more 4K channels content, just will take some time.

4K Netflix
4K sky official - Sky sports.
4K Amazon prime?

Don't get too hung up on 4K. What slipped under the radar was HDR which makes a bigger difference than 4K visually on most TV's . Amazon, Netflix and main providers starting to transmit in this format and many are not aware. Pucture is much more punchier , vibrant and with deep blacks, side by side, gives more of an impression than 4K, good picture, up to 60 or so inches. So new TV 4K + HDR or better still HDR+

Also for any games consoles owners, PS4 pro does 4K, HDR out and has Netflix, will play games in HDR and 4K too, does look good on a decent TV panel. Shame most content 4K now is probably games / Netflix. It will change, though we do all need fibre speeds first.

With any streaming type services, there is a balance of channels and hosting costs. For example if a 4K channel takes 10 times data of SD channel, this means the service provider would trade 10 channels for 1 for qualitty, which you simply can't do too often as would mean very few channels and very expensive, at the moment more really suited to the bigger players - Netflix, Sky or Amazon.



Paul
http://www.televisiontechnology.eu

as usual Paul

Thanks - just been researching a little more.

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has said that you’ll need a spare 15-20Mbps of bandwidth at the very least to get Netflix’s 4K streams.

Answer to most 4K live content at the moment is probably to get yourself a Sky box and satellite dish - the real deal. For shows odd film, if 4K few on Netflix. Not that much to get excited about at the moment! Think it will still be a little while locally overall before we start seeing more inroads to overall 4K mass use.

I mean how many HD free to air channels do we have - not many! HD has been around for ages.

Bloody manufacturers, bit like the HD screens or 4K screens on the smartphones - people have yet to realise that the current pixels / dots per cm'2 are of a higher density ppi than your eyes can detect. We are conditioned that the bigger number makes it better - maybe in bhp for cars, but at this technical type level, they need to keep selling consumer electronics. Dead 3D anyone, called that a few years back.

8K is also on the horizon. Seriously. Meantime last time I looked (which was ages, so please correct me if wrong) Sky were still charging £10 a month or so extra to have HD - 15-20 years after its inception. So rude.

Great answers Paul - thanks!

The whole TV thing is a consumers nightmare, 4K, HD, HDR, sales people not having a clue and just trying to sell you the latest set for the best commission.
Then there's 10 bit and not 10 bit, whatever they are or are not.
I have seen a high end 4K set playing 4K content and it looked stunning, but are you going to watch Holby City in 4K/HDR/3D(dead) etc etc? No.
Personally I think HD on a calibrated set looks just fine, add some decent speakers or soundbar and you're set.

I have worked at countless places where they have a massive 60" TV and sit 2 feet away, making the whole picture look really really bad. But bigger is better, right? :facepalm:

Yup companies have to keep re-inventing the latest 'thing' so you will buy it. Then like the 3D 5 or so years down the line.....

My thoughts 4K & HDR+ 10 bit panel also has a wider colour gamut - though with all of these things, you need the official / original content to view it on the TV - so if using any rebroadcaster Torresat / Superbeam etc - never will see. Satellite, Netflix / Amazon, yes (even then not that much at the moment) - unofficial IPTV services - unlikely for some time as mentioned trading channels against quality.

Best advice from above poster - decent HD TV and a sound bar (decent one) - don't waste money on smart features you won't use much. If budget allows HDR, more HDR+ and better still all of that & 10 bit panel - going from 500 - 1500 euros - 60 inches....If you are going to put SD or average content on it - little point going mad on the cost of the TV panel.