Image used with permission by copyright holderWhen it comes to getting people into 4K Ultra HD TVs, content is king — what’s the point in getting a new 4K Ultra HD set if there’s nothing to watch on it? And while Netflix and Amazon have considerably ramped up their streaming 4K UHD offerings, many experts maintain that broadcast 4K, specifically 4K sports, is the linchpin to a successful transition to the new format. Well, if that’s the case, then the 4K UHD revolution begins … in Canada?
Canadian cable giant Rogers announced today a new plan to get the jump on rivals at home and across the globe with what the company is calling the “world’s largest commitment to live sports broadcasting in 4K with HDR.” And while 4K UHD resolution alone is enough to make any sports fan a little tingly inside, the addition of HDR may be just as significant, allowing the company to bring bursting contrast and color shading to the latest 4K Ultra HD TVs.
The rollout, which is set to include 100 live sporting events in 4K UHD, including “every 2016 Toronto Blue Jays home game and over 20 marquee NHL Games,” will be riding along with a new 4K set top box. The service will also be released alongside the company’s new Gigabit Internet pipeline set to debut in select areas in Toronto, with a wider roll-out to 4 million homes by the end of 2016.
Rogers’ 4K UHD broadcasting is slated to land in April 2016, in time for the Blue Jays opening home game.
In total, the company promises to provide 500 hours of live sports, movies, and TV shows in 4K UHD in the new year. Along with the live baseball and hockey broadcasts, the breakdown will include 100 hours of 4K movies and series from Canadian streamer Shomi, along with 4K UHD content from Netflix, aided by the new lightning-fast Gigabit Internet service. In Canada, 4K UHD Netflix titles include Narcos, Marvel’s Daredevil, Sense8, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, Gracie and Frankie, Chef’s Table, Bloodline, and House of Cards.
In an effort to ensure all of those Netflix titles make it to Canadian TV sets with the highest picture quality possible, Rogers has also struck a new partnership with the service to link directly to Netflix servers.
“Our partnership with Rogers will make it even easier for Netflix members to watch their favorite shows and films on their TVs,” said Bill Holmes, global head of business development at Netflix, according to the Rogers release. “Members with a Rogers 4K set top box will be able to enjoy Netflix original series in 4K, a more immersive experience with stunning picture quality.”
Today’s move marks a serious commitment to the rising 4K UHD format for Rogers as the company looks to plow past stateside offerings from DirecTV and Comcast, both of which have been talking the 4K talk for sometime now, with little to show for it. As of now, only a few VOD offerings are available in 4K UHD from cable and satellite providers in the U.S., leaving streaming services like Netflix and Amazon as the primary providers of 4K UHD content for most users.
Live sports broadcasting in particular lends itself to the higher resolution, color reproduction, and contrast provided by 4K UHD with HDR. A coveted piece of the 4K puzzle, live broadcasting has raised its head in only small increments, usually in a testing capacity, thus far. If Rogers can accomplish its goal, the service will be far and away the biggest provider of live 4K UHD broadcasts on the global block.
No pricing has been announced for Rogers’ 4K UHD TV service , or the 4K set top box as of yet, but the company’s new Gigabit Internet service will carry a price of $150 per month. Qualifying users in Canada who want to sign up for the services can find out more information on the Rogers home website.
Vizio’s first 86-inch 4K TV is coming soon, for $999
While much of the recent attention on Vizio has been connected to its imminent acquisition by retail giant Walmart, the TV maker has just announced its first TV to break the 75-inch screen size barrier. The new 4K TV model has an 86-inch screen and will be available on April 29 for $999, a price that undercuts almost every other 86-inch model from competitors.
Along with this new TV, Vizio has also announced a major rebranding of its TV model categories.
Hands-on with the Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Apple TV 4K
The Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Apple TV 4K perched atop an extremely thin OLED television. Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends
The Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Apple TV 4K is one mouthful of an official name. What it does is much more simple. It is a mount for your iPhone to be used with an Apple TV 4K. And it has MagSafe to keep the phone in place. That's it.
Belkin drops a $50 mount for iPhone video calls on Apple TV 4K
We've previously written that the addition of FaceTime and Continuity Camera to Apple TV 4K is a perfect excuse to have some sort of tripod for your iPhone in the living room. Belkin just took that idea and made it a little easier (and less expensive than our idea).
Enter the appropriately named iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Apple TV 4K. Retailing for just under $50, it's ... well, it's a MagSafe iPhone mount to use in conjunction with video calls on your Apple TV 4K. No cables required. No power needed. Just a simple way to position your iPhone to use when on FaceTime, Zoom, Webex, or the "Sing" feature on Apple Music.
