Where are we with 4k broadcasts in 2020 (and 2021)? (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

When someone considers buying a new television, the only type you can buy is one that supports 4k.

4k displays are dirt cheap. Just about everyone has one in their home whether they embrace the format with streaming or disc options that support the format.

And with all this in mind, it's absolutely amazing we are still watching broadcast television in 1080p HD.

Is the United States behind-the-times in its adoption of 4k broadcasting compared to other countries or are we in line with them?

In 2017 we were already talking about bringing it to fruition but to date, there really hasn't been any action outside of streaming services to adopt it as a general broadcast standard.

 

[Angelo Colombus]

I currently have Directv and last time I talked to them about 4K service they only had three channels of mostly sports and movies. I would need a new receiver and pay a $59 install fee plus another 2 year agreement. Another reason not doing the 4K is that my current receiver has a S-video connection that I need to hook up to my Panasonic dvd recorder to record my favorite programing to disc and the new Genie 4K receiver only has HDMI output.

 

[Worth]

I can only get over-compressed 720p.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Okay, let me ask this...

We can now buy antennas that give us over-the-air HD broadcasts.

Are we capable of doing that with 4k?

And, are the major networks looking to upgrade to 4k daily broadcasting anytime soon?

 

[Worth]

Traditional broadcasting is on the way out - I can't see anyone spending huge sums of money to upgrade over-the-air, cable or satellite systems to be 4K compatible. If anything, they'll offer 4K as an incentive to switch to their respective streaming services.

 

[Angelo Colombus]

Around 35% of households have 4K tv so I guess the major networks might wait until more are sold? Also with Directv they have never sent me anything in the mail about any 4K signup specials or details on 4K service.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Traditional broadcasting is on the way out - I can't see anyone spending huge sums of money to upgrade over-the-air, cable or satellite systems to be 4K compatible. If anything, they'll offer 4K as an incentive to switch to their respective streaming services.

And that may be the very thing I am not factoring in here.

The average person probably watches more streaming than broadcast television.

The only thing I really watch on mainstream television is perhaps SURVIVOR and the news.

However, it still seems a bit archaic that we all have 4k displays but the basic network feed coming into our home and over the air is HD.

 

[DaveF]

Does this require ATSC 3.0, which rolls out a few years from now?

 

[buckmichaels]

There is a good article about this on Cnet. https://www.cnet.com/news/next-gen-tv-is-free-4k-tv-with-an-antenna-and-its-coming-this-year/ According to articles I've read, 4K broadcasting is to begin in the 5 largest markets this year, including Phoenix, where I am moving to. The 2020 LG models are supposed to have the new ATSC 3.0 tuners in them, and other manufacturers are including ATSC 3.0 tuners as well. You can use any antenna you want.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

There is a good article about this on Cnet. https://www.cnet.com/news/next-gen-tv-is-free-4k-tv-with-an-antenna-and-its-coming-this-year/ According to articles I've read, 4K broadcasting is to begin in the 5 largest markets this year, including Phoenix, where I am moving to. The 2020 LG models are supposed to have the new ATSC 3.0 tuners in them, and other manufacturers are including ATSC 3.0 tuners as well. You can use any antenna you want.

Of course -- new tuners.

Why would I think 4k compatible displays would be able to accept a broadcast standard change to that format?

 

[JohnRice]

For those who believe OTA broadcast is a thing of the past, don't be so sure. I believe there are more people using antennas for OTA today than ten years ago.

 

[Dennis Nicholls]

Does this require ATSC 3.0, which rolls out a few years from now?

ATSC 3.0 is already deployed in certain markets - even Boise has a station now.

Deployments - ATSC : NextGen TV

South Korea paved the road to ATSC 3.0, adopting its Ultra High-Definition (UHD) TV standard in 2016 and launching 4K ATSC 3.0 broadcasts in May 2017 that now reach more than 80% of the South Korean population. Jamaica has launched ATSC 3.0 services. India is exploring ATSC 3.0 for...

www.atsc.org

Unfortunately the Boise station appears to be a subscription model station.

Hot Potato: Edge Networks Boise Stations Light Up ATSC 3.0 - ATSC : NextGen TV

Todd Achilles is a “longtime wireless guy” who has lived through multiple generations of mobile phone technology. Now based in Idaho, the Edge Networks President & CEO applied and won approval from the FCC to launch two ATSC 3.0 stations in the Boise market a few months ago, and the stations...

www.atsc.org

 

[Guardyan]

According to this https://www.watchnextgentv.com/ - a bunch of cities are already getting OTA broadcast in 4K.

Has anyone here already witnessed it?

 

[Lord Dalek]

According to this https://www.watchnextgentv.com/ - a bunch of cities are already getting OTA broadcast in 4K.

Has anyone here already witnessed it?

Nope but then again I have DirecTV.

4k broadcasting seems have to stalled out. The satellite channels are either somewhat compressed or complete upscales from 1080 with HDR applied and streaming services generally tap out at 1440p, nowhere near actual 4k resolution.

EDIT: Cincinnati has apparently not switched to ATSC 3.0 despite claims that it would be doing so last year.

 

[Guardyan]

Nope but then again I have DirecTV.

4k broadcasting seems have to stalled out. The satellite channels are either somewhat compressed or complete upscales from 1080 with HDR applied and streaming services generally tap out at 1440p, nowhere near actual 4k resolution.

EDIT: Cincinnati has apparently not switched to ATSC 3.0 despite claims that it would be doing so last year.

Yeah, I must say that I once compared NBC/ABC/CBS broadcast OTA and on cable and OTA pic quality was much better even though the cable signal was also Full HD. OTA was also a tad faster since on cable there was almost a minute delay.