HAMPSHIRE, UK – Driven by greater content availability and compatible devices, 4K OTT (over the top) content will finally see mass-market appeal, with adoption set to soar over the next five years, says new data from Juniper Research.
According to Digital TV & Video: Network and OTT Strategies 2016-2021, 4K OTT services will attract over 189 million unique users globally by 2021, up from just 2.3 million this year. In the U.S., this means that 1 in 10 residents will be watching 4K online compared with just 1 in 500 this year. Connected TV will be the dominant channel, but viewership will also take place through a range of devices including smartphones, tablets, and PCs.
Although YouTube, Netflix and Amazon already offer some 4K video, network providers have been waiting for a critical mass of content to become available before launching their own 4K offer, continues the report. However, 2016 has seen roll-out of a number of new 4K offerings, including the launch of the Sky Q 4K service in the UK, coupled with new hardware launches to provide a means of streaming online 4K content.
Looking ahead, Juniper predicts that Japan’s goal to broadcast the 2020 Olympics in 8K will help to drive sales of 8K smart TVs. The company forecasts that 8K smart TV shipments will grow more than threefold between 2020 and 2021, to reach over 400,000 per annum by the end of the forecast period. There is currently one commercially available 8K TV on the market, priced at $133,000, the report added.
