Netflix silently rolled out 4K high-definition videos in its catalog this week. The Internet streaming media is reportedly preparing for a bigger launch of Ultra HD videos in 2014.
The Los Gatos, California-based company has added some 4K videos in its catalog. However, those videos only include footages that the company usually utilize for testing.
Netflix has added seven 4K video clips to its index. One of the seven uploaded is entitled “El Fuente: 24 MP” and is described as “an example of 4K at 24 frames per second.” The clip is a test footage used to examine the quality of 4K streaming under different conditions. In the clip, you will see kids playing in a fountain, people riding their bicycles, and scenes of a wholesale produce market.
A spokesperson of Netflix confirmed in an interview with Gigaom.com that the company “hopes to launch Ultra HD next year.”
Hopefully in a little while, Netflix, which is also reportedly talking with U.S cable providers for an app service, could give a lot more convincing 4K fare and Ultra HD videos.
During the company’s most recent earnings call, Netflix CEO and co-founder Reed Hastings told everyone in the room that Netflix aims to be “one of the big suppliers of 4K next year.” The company is projected to deliver 4K, or Ultra HD videos, with the company‘s own original content and they might also acquire some television show contents and movies from their licensing partners in Ultra HD.
The company, which was founded in 1997, is known to test all kinds of things on its service on a regular basis, and those frequent “mildly strange test videos,” have become rather a “secret cult hit” in some of Netflix’s 10 million plus subscribers, who, in the past, have usually leave a lot of teasing, mocking and sometimes ridiculous movie reviews.
