In 10 Years, Half Of Households In North America Will Have 4K TV - Here's An Up Close Look At That Transition

4K Ultra HD, or 4K for simplicity's sake, is the new TV standard that will lure consumers with the promise of TV sets that will deliver the best TV content, at the best possible resolutions. 4K has four times the pixel density of standard HD, but in practice only the largest screens will deliver audiences a noticeable improvement in picture quality.

Already, average selling prices of existing 4K sets have dropped a great deal and will drop much further, and content creators are getting on board. That's why BI Intelligence estimates that half of all North American households will have 4K-capable televisions by 2024, just ten years from now.

In the new report from BI Intelligence, we explain what 4K is, and what the adoption curve for 4K TVs and 4K content will look like. Two factors will speed up the rollout: the price of 4K-capable TVs will come down and the fast availability of 4K content on Internet video services.

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Here are some of the key trends we explore in the report:

• 4K-capable TVs will be in 10% of all North American households by year-end 2018. We forecast that this number will reach 50% by the end of 2024, just 10 years from now.
• Prices for 4K TVs are falling fast, dropping by 85% worldwide in just two years. We compare prices across regions (China has the most accessible price points), and examine how falling prices will fuel rapid 4K adoption.
• The first wave of 4K content will become available on streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Instant, and YouTube. But we also look at how cable and traditional TV broadcasters will adopt the new format, and the obstacles they face.
• Shipments of 4K-capable TVs will reach 11 million units worldwide by the end of 2016, with China accounting for the largest share of these shipments. We look at why 4K adoption has been so rapid in China.
• We also look at manufacturers' market share for 4K TV shipments, a market heavily dominated by low-cost Chinese manufacturers.

In full, the report:

• Explains the difference between 4K and traditional HD.
• Forecasts the pace of 4K adoption.
• Outlines the key factors that will allow 4K to roll out much faster than standard high definition.
• Highlights what 4K content is currently available, and where future content will come from.
• Analyzes China's role in the spread of 4K.
• Examines the current market share for 4K TV manufacturers.

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