Perhaps the biggest potential development in the future of American television that almost no one has heard about yet is something the industry calls UHD or 4K.
UHD is an acronym for Ultra High Definition, and the industry uses another acronym, 4K, to describe the number of on-screen pixels UHD uses – twice the number of current HD TV sets use (3840 x 2160 pixels versus 1920 x 1080, if you’re a techie). The picture quality is fantastic – with four times the resolution of current HDTV sets.
Talented people who spend their lives dealing with such matters are now trying to figure out how all of this will work.
Some in the TV industry thought 3D television would become the rage, but it has stagnated because there isn’t enough programming available to motivate buyers to shell out $2,500 for a 3D set. Using special glasses to watch 3D TV also has been a drawback.
A TV industry report suggests that ESPN could become the catalyst for UHD development. And two manufacturers are introducing TV sets capable of receiving the more detailed signals next month – LG said this week it will debut an 84-inch set costing $20,000 and Sony plans to price its offering at $25,000.
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