LAS VEGAS–Netflix is getting serious about 4K streaming.
The video-streaming giant announced at CES today that it will launch ultra-high definition (UHD) 4K streaming in the first half of the year, starting with a limited catalog of titles, including season two of its hit series House of Cards.
This is the first time 4K-quality video will be delivered to consumers via the Internet, as opposed to physical formats like a discs, Netflix's director of corporate communications, Joris Evers, told PCMag.
To stream Netflix in 4K, consumers will need to purchase a pricey UHD 4K TV. Vizio, LG, Samsung, and Sony have all announced here at CES that their upcoming UHD 4K TVs will have Netflix built-in and will be able to stream content from Netflix in 4K.
So how much better is 4K? It's double the width and height, and four times the number of pixels compared to the best-quality streaming Netflix currently offers, meaning you'll see a ton more detail.
"You can see wrinkles on people's skin," Evers said.
In addition, the highest-quality frames per second will increase from 30 to 60, meaning video will be sharper and smoother, and movements will be more natural. With UHD 4K streaming, Netflix will support 10-bit color, instead of 8-bit, allowing it to show about a billion colors versus around 16.8 million today. This change will result in more saturated colors; deeper greens and brighter yellows, for instance. If you're watching a movie and the scene fades to black, you may notice a smoother transition.
Netflix's initial 4K catalog will be small, but the company is looking to license more titles in UHD 4K going forward, Evers said. Users will not have to pay anything extra to stream a title in 4K, it will be part of the regular Netflix subscription.
YouTube is also at CES showing off 4K streaming in the LG, Panasonic, and Sony booths.
Meanwhile, House of Cards season two launches on Feb. 14. Netflix today released the official trailer for the upcoming season; check it out below.