DirecTV is currently testing live UltraHD sports transmission and expects to have a live 4K service sometime "early in 2016," according to Phil Goswitz, senior VP of video and space communications for the satellite TV operator.
DirecTV has offered a limited number of downloadable movies in 4K, viewable for customers with advanced Genie DVR set-tops and newer model Samsung 4K TVs, since December of 2014.
The company conducted a satellite launch earlier this year that it said enabled more advanced 4K/UltraHD services.
Speaking at the recent TranSport conference in New York, an event covered by Sports Video Group and other media, Goswitz said DirecTV has the technology in place to establish wider-scale distribution of 4K programming, but it lacks the content.
Goswitz added that DirecTV currently has the capacity to launch 50 4K channels on top of its current HD and SD portfolio.
"There are only three questions -- where's the content? Where's the damn content? Where's the goddamn content?" he added.
"I think the belief that there are technology challenges is a bit of a misinformed myth," Goswitz also said. "I think technology throughout the entire ecosystem is ready. But I think content is king; the plane is ready to take off and there is no king on board. So we are moving into working with partners who are enthusiastic about it and we are bringing our checkbooks. Forty percent of people are going to have UHD TVs coming out of Christmas and they are going to be looking for something to watch. Our goal is to have them tuned to DirecTV and have as much linear live content, especially sports content, as soon as possible."
For more:
- read this Sports Video Group story
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