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Are 4K & 7.1 Surround Sound Already Passé? Here Comes 8K and 22.2

After an unsuccessful attempt to revive video sales through 3D technologies, all signs indicate 4K video will ignite consumer interest in the video category. Following the anecdotal evidence of growing interest during the 2014 CES Show, a new study from Parks Associates should silence critics that suggest 4K will be another failed attempt by manufacturers to create buzz in new video products.

Parks newly released, “4K Today: Bringing Ultra HD to Market,” states 4K televisions will hit mass market pricing levels within the next two to three years, and 4K products will be in the top 80 percent of households within the next 10 to 12 years. Parks attributes the format’s growth to the increasing amount of over-the-top (OTT) content through companies such as Netflix, Comcast and Amazon. The study predicts telecom operators will have to strengthen their networks as a result to ensure network reliability.

“4K TV adoption is following the same pattern as HDTV, but prices are dropping more quickly,” says Stuart Sikes, president, Parks Associates. “With the increasing convergence in the connected home, innovations such as 4K have implications for a variety of players throughout the home entertainment ecosystem.”

From the article, "Are 4K & 7.1 Surround Sound Already Passé? Here Comes 8K and 22." by Robert Archer.

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