Netflix has begun offering ultra high-definition 4K streaming for some of its programming, including season two of House of Cards and some nature documentaries, reports Multichannel.
Because of the higher quality of the video, you'll need a fast internet to prevent slow loading and buffering. Netflix recommends that users have at least 15 Mbps internet speeds to access the 4K content. The improved footage of House of Cards reportedly looks great, with scenes appearing brighter and more colorful.
The 4K video content is only compatible with televisions that have HEVC/H.265 decoding capabilities, a fairly new technology. Your TV likely will not have the required tech unless it's new, so check out your specs before you wonder why it's not working!
TVs that can handle this technology are hitting shelves now, so it will probably be a while before all of this is accessible to the mass market and not restricted by high prices. As 4K TVs become more popular and less expensive to manufacture, they will become cheaper and more accessible to consumers, more fully penetrating the market--just as HD TVs did years ago. For now, they will likely be limited to enthusiasts and those with plenty of disposable income.
Netflix promised last year it would be backing 4K content, and this is the first sign of that effort. They seem to be serious about it, so we should expect to see an increasingly large portion of their library offered in 4K resolution. Many major TV manufacturers such as Samsung and LG have thrown their support behind the format, as well.
