4K to Represent Mainstream of TV Market for 'Foreseeable Future,' Says ABI

Though TV makers have announced or introduced 8K TVs, the 4K segment will continue to cement its place as the mainstream TV format over the next few years, with more than 233 million sets expected to ship in 2024, reported ABI Research Thursday. “The cost of 8K TV sets is far from affordable for most consumers,” said analyst Khin Sandi Lynn, citing previewed models from Samsung, LG, Sony and TCL, priced between $5,000 and $70,000. Price will limit 8K sales volume for the “foreseeable future,” though price points will decline to more reasonable levels over the next several years, mirroring 4K trends, said the analyst. The lack of content and distribution models are more significant barriers than cost, though, for 8K TV adoption, said Lynn, noting that only Japanese broadcaster NHK is currently delivering 8K broadcast channels. Korean Broadcasting is working toward an 8K broadcast, and streaming service provider Rakuten recently announced intent to provide 8K content late this year, she said, but service providers overall “are not ready for 8K content, nor is there much incentive for content providers due to limited 8K TV set adoption.” The need for larger data files with 8K content creates challenges for distribution and data management, said Lynn. Versatile Video Coding, promising 34 percent higher efficiency vs. HEVC, is in the standardization process and will play a key role in driving the 8K TV market when the standard is completed next year, she said: “8K is likely to gain momentum only when challenges are addressed, and the ecosystem evolves.”